• 23 Dec 2024

Chhattisgarh Tops in Forest and Tree Cover Growth: ISFR

Why in News? 

Recently, Chhattisgarh has emerged as the top state in combined forest and tree cover growth according to the Indian Forest Survey Report (ISFR) 2023. 

Key Points 

• Chhattisgarh's Forest and Tree Cover Growth: 
• Chhattisgarh has emerged as the top state in combined forest and tree cover growth according to the Indian Forest Survey Report (ISFR) 2023. 
• Chhattisgarh saw an increase of 94.75 sq km in forest cover, bringing its total forest area to 55,811.75 sq km. 
• The state recorded a total increase of 684 sq km in forest and tree cover, the highest among all Indian states. 
• Chhattisgarh's combined forest and tree cover (55,812 sq km) is the third-largest in the country after Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, with a significant increase in both forest and tree areas. 

Key Findings from ISFR 2023 

• Total Forest and Tree Cover: 
  • India’s total forest and tree cover stands at 8,27,357 sq km, which is 25.17% of the country’s geographical area. 
  • The total forest and tree cover in India includes 7,15,343 sq km of forest cover (21.76% of the total geographical area) and 1,12,014 sq km of tree cover (3.41% of the total geographical area). 
• Top States in Forest and Tree Cover Growth: 
  • Chhattisgarh: Increased forest and tree cover by 684 sq km. 
  • Uttar Pradesh: Increased cover by 559 sq km. 
  • Odisha: Increased cover by 559 sq km. 
  • Rajasthan: Increased cover by 394 sq km. 
• States with Largest Forest and Tree Cover: 
  • Madhya Pradesh: Largest total cover at 85,724 sq km. 
  • Arunachal Pradesh: Second-largest cover at 67,083 sq km. 
  • Maharashtra: Third-largest cover at 65,383 sq km. 
• States with Largest Forest Cover: 
  • Madhya Pradesh: 77,073 sq km. 
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 65,882 sq km. 
  • Chhattisgarh: 55,812 sq km. 

Ayodhya Overtakes Taj Mahal as UP's Top Tourist Destination (2024)

Why in News? 

Recently, Ayodhya overtook Agra (Taj Mahal) to become the most visited destination in Uttar Pradesh for 2024. 

Key Points 

• Ayodhya Becomes Top Destination 
  • Ayodhya attracted 135.5 million domestic tourists and 3,153 international visitors between January and September 2024. 
    • This spike in tourism is mainly driven by the inauguration of the Ram Temple, positioning the city as the epicenter of spiritual tourism in India. 
  • Ayodhya has seen a 70% increase in religious tour bookings, with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple drawing large crowds and expected to grow further during its anniversary celebrations in January 2025. 
• Agra (Taj Mahal) 
  • Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal, recorded 125.1 million visitors in 2024, with 115.9 million domestic and 924,000 international tourists. 
    • Taj Mahal continues to be a major draw for international tourists, with foreign arrivals increasing from 2.684 million in 2022-23 to 27.7 million in 2023-24. 
    • However, domestic visitor numbers to the Taj Mahal have slightly decreased by 193,000. 
• Tourism Growth in Uttar Pradesh 
  • Uttar Pradesh has seen a remarkable surge in tourism in 2024, with 476.1 million tourists visiting the state from January to September 2024. 
  • The state's tourism performance in 2024 is on track to surpass the 480 million tourists recorded in 2023. 
  • Apart from Ayodhya, other spiritual destinations in Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi (62 million domestic, 184,000 international), Mathura (68 million, 87,229 foreigners), Prayagraj (48 million), and Mirzapur (11.8 million), have also experienced significant growth in 2024. 
  • The Buddhist Circuit in Kushinagar saw 1.62 million visitors, including 153,000 international tourists, reflecting Uttar Pradesh's efforts to diversify its tourism beyond Ayodhya's spiritual appeal. 

India's First Zero-Waste Airport

Why in News? 

Recently, the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport in Indore became India's first zero-waste airport with the inauguration of a 3000 sq ft material recovery facility. 

• Waste Management System: 
  • The new Material Recovery Facility features a comprehensive waste management system to segregate and recycle waste from both the airport and aircraft. 
  • Wet waste will be converted into fertilizer, aligning with the airport's zero-waste initiative based on the 4R principle: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore. 
• Expansion Plans: 
  • Also, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation announced the capacity of Indore Airport will be increased from 40 lakh passengers to 90 lakh passengers annually in the next 3 years. 
  • Discussions are ongoing with airlines to enhance connectivity to international destinations, including Thailand and the US. 
• Infrastructure Development: 
  • The new air traffic control tower at the airport, built at a cost of Rs 55 crore, was also inaugurated by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation. 

Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025 to be Held in Bihar

Why in News? 

Bihar will host the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, in the indoor hall of the Rajgir Sports Academy in March 2025.  

Key Points 

• A total of 14 countries, including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Poland, Argentina, and South Africa, are expected to participate. 
• Bihar will host the Women's Kabaddi World Cup for the second time, after previously hosting the event in 2012 at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. 

Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 

• The Women's Kabaddi World Cup is an international kabaddi competition for women’s teams. 
• It is organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF). 
• The tournament features top kabaddi teams from around the world, competing for the title. 
• The first Women's Kabaddi World Cup was held in 2012 in Patna, Bihar. 

Haryana Govt's Notification on MSP Procurement

Why in News? 

Recently, the Haryana government has notified the procurement of 24 crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), expanding the list from 14 crops to 24. 

Key Points 

• In addition to the crops that were already being procured, including paddy, bajra, kharif moong, urd, arhar, wheat and mustard,10 more crops approved for MSP are ragi, soybean, nigerseed, safflower, barley, maize, jowar, jute, copra, and summer moong. 
• Existing crops under MSP include: paddy, bajra, kharif moong, urd, arhar, wheat, and mustard. 

Minimum Support Price 

• MSP is the minimum price at which the government guarantees to purchase certain crops from farmers to prevent distress sales and ensure fair prices. 
• MSP is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity, etc. 
  • CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It came into existence in January 1965. 
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs. 
• The MSP is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to growers for their produce and encouraging Crop Diversification. 

Uttarakhand's Wine Tourism Initiative

Why in News? 

Recently, the Uttarakhand government inaugurated its first wine production unit in Kotdwar as part of its new excise policy to promote wine tourism. 

Key Points 

• Wine Tourism Initiative: 
  • The initiative aims to offer wine enthusiasts the opportunity to tour the wine production units, learn about the history of wine, understand the production process, and taste different varieties of wine. 
  • Guest houses are being developed around wine units to enhance the tourism experience, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the region’s scenic beauty. 
• Uttarakhand’s Agricultural Resources: 
  • Uttarakhand is rich in fruits such as malta, apples, buransh flowers, pears, and galgal, which can be utilized for wine production. 
  • These local resources will help create a unique appeal for wine tourism. 
• Expansion Plans: 
  • A private wine unit in Kotdwar was established two months ago, producing wine continuously with approval from the excise department. 
  • New wine production plants are planned for Bageshwar and Champawat. 
• Economic and Employment Objectives: 
  • The government seeks to ensure the excise policy increases revenue and creates employment opportunities. 
  • Small and medium wine production units will be encouraged in hilly regions, using local fruits to create jobs and business opportunities for local populations