• 21 Sep 2022

Proposal to Build an International Airport at Nawabganj in Unnao

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) Vice Chairman Arvind Singh informed that a proposal has been submitted to build an international airport bigger than Jewar in Nawabganj of Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• On the lines of Delhi-NCR, three more cities - Sitapur, Rae Bareli and Hardoi - have also been included in the Lucknow-Kanpur State Capital Region. Earlier, apart from Lucknow and Kanpur, only Unnao and Barabanki cities were included.
• KDA vice-president Arvind Singh said that about 10,000 acres of land will be required to build the airport. The work of marking the land has started.
• Arvind Singh said that it has taken about 9 months to prepare this project. It is also important to build an international airport near Nawabganj because Amausi Airport cannot be expanded anymore.
• On the instructions of the government, the KDA has made a concept plan under the State Capital Region, in which the minimum distance from Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary to the airport is 5 km. has been kept, so that there is no effect on the habitat of birds.
• The benefit of this airport will be available not only to the state capital region, but also to Bundelkhand, cities of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Investment Proposal from Rice to Sugar in Bihar, Plan to set up 20 New Units

Why In News?

• According to information received from media sources on September 20, 2022, new proposals worth Rs 529 crore have come for investment in the field of food processing in Bihar. There is a plan to install 20 new units in these proposals. The State Investment Promotion Council has given its preliminary approval.

Key Points

• These proposals have come at the 41st meeting of the State Investment Promotion Council. An investment of Rs 419 crore is proposed to set up seven major food processing units. The proposed food processing unit in Vaishali is likely to attract an investment of Rs 213 crore. The unit will manufacture ketch-up, tomato paste and nutritional powder.
• Gopalganj-based Vishnu Sugar Mills Limited will spend Rs 90 crore on molasses-based ethanol distillery, Machhaulia Sugar Industries in West Champaran will also spend Rs 27 crore on molasses best distillery plant.
• Apart from this, a sugar mill plant will be set up at Harinagar Sugar Mills Limited, West Champaran at a cost of Rs 80 crore. Similarly, factories for various types of sattu and fruit products are proposed in Aurangabad Industrial Area.
• Among other proposals related to food processing, there are proposals to set up 13 rice mills with an investment of Rs 110 crore. These units are associated with Arva and Usna rice. All these rice mills are to be set up at Sitamarhi, Vidyanagar in Madhubani, Kasipur Belwa in Kishanganj, Karghar in Rohtas, Kherhari in Aurangabad, Banka, West Champaran, Jagdishpur in Bhojpur and Purnia.
• There are also proposals of more than Rs 46 crore to set up textile and leather units in the Investment Promotion Council. Jute yarn, fiber products, sewing, weaving and embroidery units are proposed to be set up at Sultanganj in Kishanganj. Similarly, first clearance has been given for textile and leather units in Bhagalpur, Purnia, Banka and East Champaran.

Other important facts:

• There are proposals to set up units in Muzaffarpur, Mohanpur, Bhagalpur, Patna, Begusarai for manufacturing fly ash bricks. However, an investment of only Rs 7 crore is proposed on this.
• Apart from this, small scale industries of PVC pipes etc. are to be set up in Purnia, Patna and Muzaffarpur districts.
• There are proposals to set up 21 more units worth about Rs 177 crore. General manufacturing, renewable energy, floor mill, paper cups and plates, cold storage, warehouse, machine manufacturing, hospital, oxygen plant and wooden furniture units are to be set up.
• In the 41st meeting of the Investment Promotion Council, 53 proposals worth Rs 765 crore were approved for first clearance, 11 proposals worth Rs 164 crore were given financial clearance and applications for first clearance of 10 units were rejected.

State Government reduced VAT at Gaya Airport

Why In News?

• According to information received from the airport office on September 20, 2022, the state government has reduced its share of VAT charge from 29 percent to just four percent, giving a big facility to the aircraft to take fuel at Gaya airport.

Key Points

• The state government has taken this decision to increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists in Gaya and Bodh Gaya and to increase the movement of more and more passengers through Gaya Airport. This will also benefit Gaya and Bodh Gaya financially. Gaya airport will also benefit from the increase in aircraft movement and will increase the income in the form of landing charges of aircraft.
• With this decision of the state government, the aircraft will be able to get cheaper fuel at Gaya airport and due to this, the movement of other routes will also increase to take fuel here. Passenger movement may also increase mainly with domestic flights reaching Gaya airport.
• Most of the aircraft, which are also moving through other routes, will land at Gaya airport to get cheap fuel and decide the route of Gaya airport. This will benefit passengers coming to Gaya and going out of Gaya. The movement of domestic aircraft will increase and Gaya airport will be connected to many big cities of the country. Even flights flying from Bangkok to Kolkata would prefer the route via Gaya.
• By taking fuel in Gaya, aircraft will save at least 20 thousand rupees on one thousand liters of fuel. Usually, any aircraft takes close to two thousand liters of fuel at the time of fuel refilling. In this way, airlines will save at least 40 thousand rupees in taking fuel once. To take advantage of this, now flights flying from Chennai to Delhi and Delhi to Kolkata will also prefer the route of Gaya Airport.

The Rajasthan Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote. The Bill was introduced in the House by Cooperation Minister Anjana Udayalal.

Key Points

• After discussing the bill, the Cooperative Minister, while highlighting its objectives and reasons, said that in the amended bill, with a view to ensure the participation of long-serving and experienced members for the efficient working of cooperative societies, section 28 of the Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001. Sub-section (7-A) of the said Act has been omitted.
• It may be mentioned that the existing sub-section (7-A) of section 28 of the Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001 (Act No. 16 of 2002) provided that no person shall be eligible for election as a member of the society. , if he has been elected or co-opted as a member of the society of the same society for two consecutive terms after the commencement of the Rajasthan Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act No. 11 of 2016), unless such A period of five years has not elapsed from the date of expiry of his second term as a member of the Committee.
• Earlier, the motion to publicize the bill by the members was rejected by the House by voice vote.

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Emoluments and Pension of Officers and Members) (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why In News?

• On 20 September 2022, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (Emoluments and Pension of Officers and Members) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote.

Key Points

• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal introduced the bill in the House.
• After this amendment, the former members of Rajasthan will be able to get reimbursement of actual fare for traveling abroad in any class in rail, aircraft, ship or steamer, but approval from the Speaker of the Assembly will be necessary for such travel. Earlier this facility was available only for travel within the territory of India.
• Earlier, the motion to publicize the bill by the members was rejected by the House by voice vote.

Amendment in the Meritorious Student Scheme

Why In News?

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on September 20, 2022, along with giving approval to the amendments in the ‘Chief Minister Meritorious Student Scheme' many other important decisions were taken.

Key Points

• According to the amendment, such students who have received the benefit of the scheme once and if the income limit is more than Rs 6 lakh, will be eligible for the benefit of the scheme till the completion of the course.
• Also, students who have secured first 15 percent place in the centralized common merit list of the state in the second year of engineering and pharmacy courses through 'lateral entry' and 70 percentiles in 10th and 12th examination from the Board of Secondary Education or CBSE/ICSE. If the students who have passed the examination with 85 percent take admission in the engineering and pharmacy courses of the institutions included in the order, then such students will be eligible for the scheme. Such students will not be bound by JEE Mains rank for admission to engineering courses.
• The Cabinet gave its approval for establishment and operation of Motor Driving Training and Research Institute (MDTRI) in District Datia .
• The cabinet has increased the rate of dearness allowance and relief payable to government servants and pensioners in the seventh pay scale by 3 percent from August 1, 2022 (payment month September, 2022) to 34 percent and government servants working in the sixth pay scale of the state government. And ratified the order issued on August 18, 2022 to increase the dearness allowance on a proportionate basis in the fourth and fifth pay scales of state government undertakings, corporations, boards and aided institutions working on deputation in the state government.
• As a result of increase in dearness relief to pensioners/family pensioners in Section 49 of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2000, the expenditure is borne by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Government of Chhattisgarh in fixed proportion. After obtaining the consent of the Chhattisgarh government, the Finance Department was authorized to issue an order of dearness relief.
• With the increase of 3 percent in the dearness allowance payable to the employees, an additional estimated expenditure burden of Rs 625 crore is likely in this financial year. An additional estimated expenditure of Rs 304 crore is likely to be incurred in this financial year due to the increase of 3 percent in dearness relief in the event of consent of the pensioners/family pensioners from the Chhattisgarh government.
• For speedy implementation of schemes run by Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation, it has been decided by the Council of Ministers to speed up the recruitment process of human resource and easy availability of IT experts skilled in new technologies. (COE, PeMTS, MPSSDI, CPCT, Email-PMU, TCU, SDC, Security Audit Lab) Services can be taken from contract or outsource by changing the sanctioned posts in the projects.

Madhya Kshetra Electricity Distribution Company got the State Level 'Most Prominent Industry' Award

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the 'Most Dominant Industry' award to Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Bhopal for imparting apprenticeship training to the highest number of apprentices in the entire state in the SPSU category.

Key Points

• Dilip Kumar Kapse, Chief General Manager (HR and Administration), Central Zone Electricity Distribution Company, received this award at the hands of the Chief Minister at the first convocation of ITI passed trainees held at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center (Minto Hall), Bhopal.
• It is worth noting that under the Central Government's National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) by the Power Distribution Training Center of the Central Region Electricity Distribution Company, the maximum number of 973 trade apprentices in the state of Madhya Pradesh are Electrician, Electronics, Mechanic, Copa, Steno English and Steno Hindi subjects. One year training has been given in various disciplines under the company.

1074 Scheduled Caste Dominated Villages of the State Selected in 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana'

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, it was informed by the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department that 1074 Scheduled Caste dominated villages of Madhya Pradesh have been selected under the 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana'.

Key Points

• For the best implementation of the scheme in the year 2021-22, 3 districts of the state have been selected at the national level, in which Guna district is second and Sehore district is third.
• It is worth mentioning that 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana' is being operated by the Central Government for the integrated development of scheduled caste dominated villages. The scheme selects villages with a population of 500 or more, whose population is more than 50 percent scheduled caste.
• In Adarsh villages, maximum benefits of various beneficiary oriented schemes of the government will be provided to the villagers. Along with making Aadhar card for all the people in various government schemes, providing benefits of destitute, old age and handicapped pension scheme to eligible persons, 100% admission of children in Anganwadi and schools, providing scholarship to all students according to their eligibility, in every household. Provision of toilets, providing benefit of Ujjwala gas scheme to eligible families and providing electricity connection in each household etc.
• Under the 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana', work will be done on a large scale for the infrastructure development of the selected villages. This includes school building, Anganwadi building, internal road construction, drain construction, drinking water system, street light and proper arrangement for disposal of solid and liquid waste materials in the village.
• The central government will provide assistance of Rs 20 lakh for gap filling for infrastructure development in each village. Along with this, work of infrastructure development will be done in the village in harmony with various schemes of the state.
• It is noteworthy that in the implementation of 'Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana' in the country, Madhya Pradesh has remained at the top position since the beginning. At present, 5 lakh 53 thousand 108 persons have been benefited as per eligibility in respect of 1074 villages.

Automatic Vehicle Fitness Center

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Transport and Revenue Minister Govind Singh Rajput informed that it is proposed to set up an automotive vehicle fitness center for the fitness of commercial vehicles at a cost of about Rs 150 crore at 10 divisional headquarters of the state.

Key Points

• Transport and Revenue Minister Govind Singh Rajput said that with the establishment of the centers, physical checking of vehicles will be done at one place before giving fitness certificates. At present, the fitness of the vehicles is being done manually.
• It is worth mentioning that in order to curb vehicle accidents, instructions have been given by the Central Government to set up Automotive Motor Fitness Centers in all states.
• About Rs 15 crore will be spent on setting up a center. With the establishment of one center, about 40 thousand vehicles can be tested and tested in a year.
• During the checking of the vehicle in the fitness center, the fitness certificate will be given only after checking the pollution, oil leakage, brakes, lights, wheel alignment, speed governor etc.

Governor Approves Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University Bill

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, Governor Ramesh Bais gave assent to the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University Bill, 2022 passed by the Jharkhand Assembly.

Key Points

• The bill was sent to the Governor for the second time. Earlier, the bill was returned by the Governor due to errors in the Hindi and English version. After this, it was passed in the monsoon session of the assembly and sent again to the Governor.
• Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University will be headquartered in Jamshedpur and the jurisdiction will be all over Jharkhand. The vice-chancellor of the university will be appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the search committee set by the state government.
• The purpose of the creation of the university is to preserve, research the tribal language and the rich cultural tradition of the tribal community and encourage meritorious students of tribal society.
• The tribal university will remain open to all classes, castes and creeds. Regional centers can be opened in any district according to the need. Students will be able to get education in 10 faculties in the university.
• The opening of this university will benefit students from Jharkhand as well as West Bengal and Odisha. The university is planned to be constructed between Galudih and Ghatshila in Jamshedpur.

'Khaki Ke Rang School Ke Sang' Program of Mahasamund District included in the Golden Book of World Records

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, the 'Khaki Ke Rang School Ke Sang' programme sponsored by the police in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh has been included in the Golden Book of World Records.

Key Points

• District Superintendent of Police Bhojram Patel and his team were felicitated by Dr. Manish Vishnoi, Asia Head, Golden Book of World Records.
• It is worth mentioning that this program was run to create awareness among the general public about cyber-crime. In this, cyber awareness campaign has been conducted among more than 20 thousand school children in just two months. This important achievement has been included in the Golden Book of World Records.
• The video made by Mahasamund Police for cyber awareness was launched. This video is getting widespread public appreciation.
• It is noteworthy that according to the intention of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, school children are being made aware on various topics in the 'Khaki Ke Rang School Ke Sang' program by Mahasamund Police. Along with this, students are being taught ways of self-defense.

CM Trophy India International Badminton Challenge-2022

Why In News?

• On September 20, 2022, the Chief Minister's Trophy India International Badminton Challenge-2022 started in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. The contest will continue till September 25.

Key Points

• The entire tournament is being played at the Eye Sports Badminton Arena in Mowa, Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh.
• Along with India, 550 badminton players from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Canada, USA, Maldives, Mauritius, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Japan, Uganda and Zambia have come to participate in this international level badminton event.
• The qualifying rounds are to be played on the first two days of this event, i.e. on 20 and 21 September. The main draws will be held from September 22 to September 25. Men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles matches will be played during this period. The prize money in this competition has been kept at 15 thousand US dollars.
• It is worth mentioning that on the initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, an international match of badminton is being organized for the first time in Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is constantly trying to encourage sports in Chhattisgarh.
• For this, along with the construction of academy for various sports and increasing facilities in Chhattisgarh, initiatives are also being taken to organize sports in Chhattisgarh. In this episode, the Chief Minister's Trophy India International Badminton Challenge-2022 is being organized here.