• 25 Mar 2025

Power Amnesty Scheme in J&K

Why in News? 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended the power amnesty scheme for domestic consumers. 

 Key Points 

• Repeated Implementation: 
  • The Administrative Council, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved the extension of the Amnesty Scheme-2022 until 31st March 2025, to benefit domestic electricity consumers. 
  • The scheme was reintroduced after many consumers were unable to avail of its benefits in 2024. 
• Proposed Incentive-Based Scheme: 
  • The CM suggested a new scheme where incentives on outstanding dues would be linked to future payments, encouraging timely bill settlements. 
  • He also highlighted the importance of metering to improve revenue collection and reduce financial losses. 
  • The amnesty scheme helped recover Rs 235.58 crore from domestic consumers in 2023-2024. 

Infrastructure Boost Under HAM Phase-1 Project

Why in News? 

Maharashtra Chief Minister announced a major advancement in the State’s infrastructure development by successfully implementing the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) Phase-1 project.  

• This initiative will upgrade 6,000 kilometres of roads across the State with an investment of Rs 41,730 crore. 

 Key Points 

• Project Progress and Financial Closure: 
  • The Chief Minister highlighted the project's progress, announcing that Rs 25,875 crore has been secured in financial closure.  
  • He credited banks such as HUDCO, IIFCL, Canara Bank, PNB, UCO, BOM, NABFID, PSB, and SBICAPS for their crucial support. 
• Accelerated Implementation: 
  • The initiative has exceeded expectations, achieving 5% more progress in record time under the State’s 100-day program. 
• Upcoming Infrastructure Projects: 
  • The Chief Minister revealed that infrastructure projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore are set for completion this year, signifying a transformative phase in Maharashtra’s development. 

 Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) 

• It is a mix of EPC and BOT-Annuity models. As per the design, the government will contribute 40% of the project cost in the first five years through annual payments (annuity).  
• The remaining payment will be made on the basis of the assets created and the performance of the developer.

Farakka Barrage

Why in News? 

The Union Government has decided to commission the Farakka Barrage shortly, despite the concerns raised by the Bangladesh delegation during the talks in February 2025. 

 Key Points 

• Project Timeline and Cost: 
  • The construction of the Farakka Barrage took nearly 12 years to complete, with an expenditure exceeding Rs 130 crore. 
• Concerns Raised by Bangladesh: 
  • The Bangladesh delegation, led by the Minister for Flood Control and Water Resources, reiterated long-standing concerns  
• Efforts to Address Bangladesh’s Concerns: 
  • The Union Government has consistently worked to dispel apprehensions, first expressed by the erstwhile East Pakistan Government and now by Bangladesh, regarding the potential impact of the Farakka Barrage on their country. 

 Farakka Barrage 

• Location: Built on the Ganga River in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, around 18 km from the Bangladesh border. 
• Commissioning: Operational since 21st April 1975, after 12 years of construction at a cost of Rs 130 crores. 
• Purpose: Diverts 40,000 cusecs of water into the Farakka Feeder Canal to clear silt from the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River, ensuring smooth navigation for Kolkata Port. 
• Water-Sharing Agreements: India and Bangladesh have signed multiple agreements, including the 1977 Farakka Agreement and the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty, to regulate Ganga water distribution. 

Special Incentives for ‘Maoism free’ Panchayats

Why in News? 

The Chhattisgarh government has introduced a scheme to incentivize Maoist surrenders in Bastar, providing Rs 1 crore in construction projects and other benefits to panchayats designated as “Maoism-free.” 

 Key Points 

• Maoist Surrender Requirement: 
  • The state Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced that under the Elvad Panchayat Abhiyan, a panchayat must ensure the surrender of all residents involved in Naxal activities. After this, the village can submit a proposal to be declared “Maoism-free.” 
• Incentives for Maoism-Free Panchayats: 
  • Immediate sanction of Rs 1 crore for construction projects. 
  • Installation of mobile towers or signal transmission from nearby towers to improve network access. 
  • Extension of electricity lines to the panchayat, with solar lighting as a temporary measure until grid connections are established. 
• Comparison with ODF Villages and Rehabilitation Policy: 
  • The Deputy CM compared the initiative to the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) village campaign, emphasizing collective community participation. 
  • He also highlighted provisions of the Chhattisgarh Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025, which includes: 
    • Skill Development: Training for surrendered Maoists. 
    • Housing and Land Allocation: Under the PM Housing Scheme. 
    • Financial Assistance: Additional relief measures for rehabilitation. 

 Maoism  

• About:   
  • Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances.   
    • Mao called this process, the ‘Protracted People's War’, where the emphasis is on ‘military line’ to capture power.   
• Maoist Ideology:   
  • The central theme of Maoist ideology is the use of violence and armed insurrection as a means to capture State power.    
  • ‘Bearing of arms is non-negotiable’ as per the Maoist insurgency doctrine.    
• Indian Maoists:   
  • The largest and the most violent Maoist formation in India is the Communist Party of India (Maoist) formed in 2004.   
  • The CPI (Maoist) and its front organizations were banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.   
  • Front Organizations are the off-shoots of the parent Maoist party, which professes a separate existence to escape legal liability. 

International Forest Day

Why in News? 

International Forests Day celebrations were organized on 21st March, 2025 at Rajasthan International Centre (RIC), Jaipur. 

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan launched  several programs related to forest conservation, tourism and climate change . 

 Key Points 

• About the programs: 
  • The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of Forest Training and Management Institute in Jaipur. 
  • Eco tourism facilities were introduced in Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary and electric golf carts were introduced  in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur and Nahargarh Biological Park . 
  • Soil Health Card and logo of Climate Change Response and Ecosystem Services Enhancement (CRESEP) in Rajasthan were unveiled.  
  • DG-Forest App was inaugurated , which is based on IT technology to enhance transparency in the Forest Department . 
  • Kits were distributed to Vanmitras and women forest personnel working in the field were honoured.  
• International Forest Day: 
  • The International Day of Forests began as “World Forestry Day” established in 1971 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) . 
  • It was formally recognised by  the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. 
  • It aims to raise awareness about forest conservation and sustainable management . 
  • The theme of International Day of Forests 2025 is "Forests and Food" . 

 Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary  

• About:  
  • Situated in the Aravalli hills, approximately 20 kilometres from Jaipur, Rajasthan.  
  • Named after Nahargarh Fort, an 18th-century fort built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.  
  • Covers an area of 720 hectares.  
  • Includes Nahargarh Biological Park, renowned for its lion safaris.  
• Flora: Comprises dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands.  
• Fauna:  
  • Mammals:  
    • Common species include leopards, wild boars, deer, lions, tigers, sloth bears, and various small mammals.  
  • Birds:  
    • A paradise for bird watchers, featuring species such as peacocks, owls, and eagles.  
  • Reptiles and Amphibians:  
    • Home to reptiles like Indian rock pythons and monitor lizards.  
    • Amphibians such as frogs and toads are also found here. 

 Keoladeo National Park 

• Introduction:  
  • Keoladeo National Park is a wetland and bird sanctuary located in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of  the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. 
    • Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognised  as India's first Ramsar sites in 1981 . 
    • Currently, Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake (Manipur)  are listed in the Montreux Record . 
  • It is famous for its rich bird diversity and abundance of water birds . The park is home to over 365 species of birds , including many rare and endangered species , such as the Siberian crane .   
• Rivers :   
  • The Gambhir and Banganga rivers flow through this national park. 

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

Caracal, a medium-sized and locally threatened cat, was seen for the first time in Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan . 

 

Key Points 

• About Caracal: 
  • Scientific Name: Caracal Caracal Schmitzi 
  • The caracal is a nocturnal cat species found in  Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia . 
  • It is identified by its long, pointed and black tufted ears . Its name is derived from the Turkish word 'karakulak' , which means black ears . 
  • It is an extremely agile predator , known for its fast speed and long jumping ability . Its main diet is small hoofed animals and rodents . 
• Historical Importance: 
  • The caracal has been an important part of Indian wildlife . It is mentioned in historical texts such as Khamsa-i-Nizami and Shahnama , indicating its usefulness in hunting. It was once found in various biological provinces across 13 states of India . 
• Distribution: 
  • They are found mostly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and are located in Kutch, the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hill range. 
  • Besides India, the caracal is found in several dozen countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. 
• Habitats: 
  • It occurs in semi-deserts, steppes, savannah, scrubland, dry forest and moist woodland or evergreen forest. 
  • It prefers open terrain and drier, scrubby, arid habitats and needs cover. 
• Declination in numbers: 
  • The number of Caracal in India has reduced to less than 50 . 
  • Between 2001 and 2020, their population has declined by more than 95%. 
  • Their staple food has become scarce due to habitat loss and urbanization . 
• Conservation status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I 
  • CITES: Appendix I 
  • In 2021, the National Board for Wildlife and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change classified the caracal as a critically endangered species. 

Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve 

• It is located in the Hadauti region of Rajasthan, spread over an area of 759 square kilometres across four districts of Rajasthan – Kota, Bundi, Chittaurgarh and Jhalawar. 
  • It consists of a core area of 417 square kilometres and a buffer zone of 342 square kilometres. 
• It was declared a protected area in 1955. The trees in the forest here are very thick and dense. 
• This tiger reserve is surrounded by four rivers Ramzan, Aahu, Kali and Chambal and is situated between two parallel hills Mukundra and Gagrola . It falls under the drainage area of the tributaries of Chambal river. 
• Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve is the third largest tiger reserve in Rajasthan after Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserves. 
• The Government of Rajasthan, in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority , declared it a Tiger Reserve in the year 2013 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 . 

Neja Fair

Why in News? 

Recently the Uttar Pradesh administration has banned the Neja fair held in Sambhal. 

Key Points 

• About the fair: 
  • This fair is organised in the memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, nephew and commander of foreign invader Mahmud Ghaznavi . 
    • The tomb of Abdul Salar Ghazi is located in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh , which was built by  Firoz Shah Tughlaq . 
  • According to historians, many soldiers of Ghaznavi's army were killed in the conflict between  Prithviraj Chauhan and Mahmud Ghaznavi . 
  • The tombs of these soldiers were built in Sambhal , which later became a centre of faith for the devotees. Later, Neja fairs started being organised at these places. 
    • It is noteworthy that Sambhal was the capital of Prithviraj Chauhan. 
• Reason for Ban: 
  • Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India 17 times between 1000 and 1027 AD and destroyed many Hindu religious places including the Somnath temple . His commander Syed Salar Masood Ghazi is considered the main architect of these invasions.  
  • In such a situation, it is not appropriate to organise a fair in the memory of a robber and murderer . 
  • The historical background of the fair is linked to foreign invaders , hence it can cause communal tension . 

Bihar Diwas

Why in News? 

A three-day function was organized from 22 to 24 March 2025 at Gandhi Maidan, Patna on the occasion of Bihar Diwas which is celebrated every year on 22 March.   

Key Points 

• About the function: 
  • The main purpose of celebrating this day is to honor the rich cultural heritage, history and development of Bihar . 
  • This year the 113th foundation day was organised, the theme of which was 'Advanced Bihar, Developed Bihar' . 
  • An exhibition related to the development works was organized by various departments in the function , which included the Education Department, Rural Development, Art, Culture and Youth Department, Disaster Management etc. 
  • The Chief Minister released the booklets 'Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap of Bihar ' and ' Chief Minister School Safety Program' . 
• History of Bihar Day: 
  • On March 22, 1912, the British formed a new province 'Bihar' separate from Bengal. 
    • The Swadeshi movement against the Bengal Partition implemented in 1905 led to the cancellation of Bengal Partition and the formation of Bihar and Assam. 
    • In 2000, a new state 'Jharkhand' was established, separate from Bihar.
  • In 2011, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar established it as a comprehensive celebration, which includes various programs and events. This day is a public holiday in Bihar.  
  • Apart from India, the day is also celebrated in countries like the United States, Germany, Britain (Scotland), Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mauritius . 

 Bihar State 

• About:  
  • The origin of the name Bihar is believed to be due to the abundance of Buddhist monasteries ( Viharas ), because this region was the main center of  Buddhism in ancient times. 
  • The capital of the state is Patna , which was also known as Pataliputra, Pushpapur and Kusumpur in ancient times . 
• Geographical location: 
  • Bihar is located between  24°20'10" to 27° 31' 15" north latitude and 83°19'50" to 88° 17' 40" east longitude . 
  • The total area of the state is 94,163 sq km , making it the 13th largest state in the country . 
  • The total geographical area of the state covers 2.86% of India. 
  • The state's north to south length is 345 km and east to west length is 483 km. 
  • The largest district in terms of area is West Champaran and the smallest district is Shivhar .  
• Boundaries: 
  • Bihar shares its border with 3 states (West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand) and Nepal. 
  • 7 districts of Bihar (West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj) border Nepal.  
  • There are 8 districts (Rohtas, Kaimur, Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj and West Champaran)  bordering Uttar Pradesh . 
  • 3 districts (Kishanganj, Purnia and Katihar) from West Bengal and 8 districts (Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas and Katihar) from Jharkhand are connected. 
  • The northernmost district is West Champaran , the southernmost district is Gaya , the westernmost district is Kaimur and the easternmost district is Kishanganj.

Green India Expo in Bhopal

Why in News? 

The three-day Green India Expo concluded on 23 March 2025 in Bhopal in which reputed companies, manufacturers and potential investors from all over the country participated. 

 Key Points 

• About the Expo: 
  • The expo  was organised by Imagine Events and Dickey's . 
  • The main objective of this expo was to promote green energy and entrepreneurship 
• Main attractions: 
  • Solar energy: A golden opportunity for savings and business. 
  • Freedom from electricity bill: Benefit of free electricity for 30 years on adopting the solar system . 
  • Subsidy worth lakhs: Attractive subsidy on solar panels and lights under government schemes . 
  • Wide range of e-vehicles: Showcasing electric vehicles for domestic and commercial use . 

 Green Energy 

• It is a term used for energy obtained from renewable sources. Green energy is also often referred to as clean, sustainable or renewable energy. 
• Green energy production does not emit toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which means it has very little (or negligible) environmental impact. 
• Green energy sources include electricity produced by solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, hydroelectricity, and some eligible biomass sources.