Haryana

• 21 Feb 2025

Haryana's New Chief Secretary

Why in News? 

The Haryana government appointed 1990-batch IAS officer Anurag Rastogi as the state's new chief secretary. 

 Key Points 

• New Appointments: 
  • Chief Secretary: 
  • According to a government order Anurag Rastogi has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Haryana. 
  • He will continue to hold the charge of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, and Additional Chief Secretary (Finance and Planning). 
• Election Commission: 
  • Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner. 
  • Vivek Joshi has been appointed as an Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. 

 Chief Secretary of State 

• Appointment: 
  • The Chief Secretary is ‘chosen’ by the Chief Minister. As the appointment of Chief Secretary is an executive action of the Chief Minister, it is taken in the name of the Governor of the State. 
• Position: 
  • The post of Chief Secretary is the senior-most position in the civil services of the states and union territories of India. 
  • The position is a cadre post for the Indian Administrative Services. 
  • The Chief Secretary is the chief advisor to the Chief Minister in all matters of the cabinet. 
• Tenure: 
  • The office of Chief Secretary has been excluded from the operation of the tenure system. There is no fixed tenure for this post. 

Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana

Why in News? 

The Chief Minister of Haryana announced that the state will now extend Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana benefits to potato growers. This decision will shield farmers from price fluctuations and ensure essential financial assistance. 

 Key Points 

• Disbursement of Financial Assistance: 
  • The government has successfully disbursed an amount of Rs 46.34 crore to farmers for the year 2023-24 under the scheme. 
• About Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana: 
  • The Haryana government launched this scheme to protect farmers from financial losses due to declining market prices. 
  • The scheme covers 21 horticultural crops, including: 
    • 5 fruit crops 
    • 14 vegetable crops 
    • 2 spice crops 
• Current Registration and Assistance: 
  • 3,15,614 farmers have registered 7,02,220 acres under the scheme. 
  • The government has provided over Rs 110 crore in financial assistance to 24,385 farmers. 
• Advisory for Potato Farmers: 
  • Farmers have been advised to store their potato crops in cold storage if market prices fall to safeguard their produce and income. 
• Process: 
  • Farmers must register their crops on the "Meri Fasal Mera Byora" portal. 
  • The Horticulture Department verifies the details before issuing benefits. 
  • The scheme covers landowners, lessees, and tenants, ensuring broad-based farmer support. 

Railways Upgrade for Delhi-Ambala Corridor

Why in News? 

To address the increasing load on the Delhi-Ambala rail corridor, the Ministry of Railways has planned to upgrade the existing two-track system into a four-line corridor.  

• Railway officials met with district administration officers in Panipat and Sonepat under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners to discuss the project details. 

 Key Points 

• Need for Expansion: 
  • Deputy Commissioner Sonepat emphasized the urgent need for expanding the Delhi-Ambala rail corridor due to the increasing train load. 
  • The current two-track system is insufficient, prompting the Railway Ministry to plan the expansion of the 193.6 km corridor from Delhi to Ambala. 
• Project Scope and Cost: 
  • The expansion will involve development work at 32 railway stations along the route. 
  • The project has an estimated cost of Rs 7,074 crore and aims for completion within four years. 
• Land Acquisition Details: 
  • The expansion requires 11 hectares of land from 15 villages: 
  • 8 villages in Samalkha division 
  • 7 villages in Panipat 
  • The administration will ensure appropriate compensation for landowners. 
• Railway’s Land Proposal: 
  • The project requires 85 hectares, including: 
    • 80 hectares of private land 
    • 5 hectares of government land 
  • Upon completion, the upgraded corridor will offer significantly improved facilities for the public. 

 Indian Railways 

• Indian Railways was established in 1853 and is one of the world's largest railway networks. 
• The first railway on the Indian sub-continent ran over a stretch of 21 miles from Bombay to Thane.  
• India is projected to account for 40% of the total global share of rail activity by 2050. 
• Indian Railways crafted the National Rail Plan (NRP) for India - 2030 to develop a modern railway system.