• 26 Nov 2021

Asia's Largest Airport

Why in News

• On November 25, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Asia's largest Noida International Airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• This airport will be the world's fourth largest international airport and Uttar Pradesh's 5^th international airport. It will be the second international airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in Delhi NCR.
• Noida Airport is being developed by Zurich Airport International.
• In the first phase, Noida Airport will be built on 1300 hectares of land at a cost of Rs 10,050 crore by the year 2024. Noida Airport will have a capacity of 12 million passengers when the first phase is completed.
• State of the art MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhauling) service will also be available at this airport. The airport has been designed in such a way that operating expenses will be kept low and the transfer process of passengers can be done expeditiously.
• Noida International Airport will be the country's first net zero emission airport in terms of environment. A forest park will be prepared by planting trees on the nearby land.

Export Policy Uttar Pradesh 2020-25

Why in News

• On November 25, 2021, the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to promulgate the Export Policy Uttar Pradesh 2020-25. For the first time such a comprehensive export policy is being promulgated.

Key Points

• The objective of this policy is to promote development and competition in the field of exports, to provide necessary export-related assistance and services to export ancillary institutions, to establish and develop technical and physical infrastructure to increase exports from the state. Apart from this, with the aim of promoting exports, to provide necessary support for the development of export potential of industries, to identify the opportunities available in the global market for products manufactured locally / in the country. To encourage capacity development by adopting best export practices.
• The focus areas of Export Policy Uttar Pradesh 2020-25 are Handicrafts, Agricultural and Processed Food Products, Engineering Goods and Textiles, Leather Products, Carpets and Rugs, Glass and Ceramic Products, Wood Products, Sports Goods, Defense Products, Services Sector, Education, Tourism, IT and ITeS, Medical Value Travels and Logistics.
• Under the Export Policy 2020-25, the expenditure on facilities and other ancillary activities to be provided to the eligible units will be kept within the limit of the amount provided in the budget.
• The development work of infrastructure facilities to be developed in cluster based Special Economic Zones in each district of the state will be funded from the funds provided for Uttar Pradesh Export Infrastructure Development Scheme.
• With the aim of doubling the income of farmers and promoting exports from the agriculture sector, Uttar Pradesh Export Promotion Policy 2020-25 will be able to adopt all those elements which are not covered by the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Promotion Policy-2019.

Significant Improvement in Sex Ratio in Bihar: NFHS-5

Why in News

• According to the National Family Survey-5 released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on November 24, 2021, there has been a significant improvement in the sex ratio of Bihar. It has increased from 1062 in 2015-16 survey (NFHS-4) to 1090.

Key Points

• The sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) in Bihar has increased to 1090 from 1062 in the last survey.
• While the sex ratio of urban areas of Bihar is only 982, the sex ratio of rural areas is 1111.
• According to the survey, the literacy rate among women in the age group of 15-49 in Bihar is only 55 percent, which is a cause for concern.
• The infant mortality rate in Bihar has come down to 46.8 (per thousand) from 48.1 in the previous survey.
• There has been tremendous improvement in the matter of family planning in Bihar. According to NFHS-4, only 24.1 percent of women in the age group of 15-49 years of Bihar had done family planning, which has increased to 55.8 percent in NFHS-5.
• On the other hand, 63.5 percent of women aged 15-49 in Bihar are victims of anemia, which was 60.3 percent in the last survey.
• The total fertility rate in Bihar has also come down to 3.0 (child/female) from 3.4 in the previous survey.

SDG Urban Index, 2021

Why in News

• Recently, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) urban index was released by NITI Aayog, in which the performance of Bihar's capital Patna is disappointing. Patna has been ranked 52nd out of 56 cities. In this, Patna has been placed in the performer category (50-64).

Key Points

• For the first time under this type of sustainable development goal, urban index has been released by NITI Aayog.
• In the index, 56 urban areas of the country have been ranked on the basis of progress achieved in 77 indices, in which Shimla is on the first rank with the highest score of 75.5. Patna has got a total score of 57.29 in this index.
• In this index, the cities are divided into 4 categories – (I) Achiever (100 marks), (II) Front runner (65-99 marks), (III) Performer (50-64 marks) and (IV) Aspirant ( 0-49 points).
• Patna has got only 45 score in terms of achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - 1 (Zero Poverty). While Patna has performed worst in terms of achieving SDG target 8. In this, Patna's score is only 17.
• In terms of achieving SDG-12 (Ensuring Sustainable Consumption and Production Pattern), Patna has scored the best performing 100.
• The United Nations has set 17 SDG goals to ensure sustainable development. Countries and states are committed to fulfilling the objectives of SDGs.

Significant Progress of Madhya Pradesh in NFHS-5

Why in News

• Recently, in the data of National Family Health Survey-5 released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the state has made remarkable progress in many areas in comparison to the National Family Health Survey-4 of the year 2015-16.

Key Points

• According to the report of National Family Health Survey-5, the child sex ratio in Madhya Pradesh has improved to 956 in the year 2020-21, as compared to 927 in the year 2015-16. There has also been an improvement in the overall sex ratio. It was 948 in the year 2015-16 which has increased to 970 now.
• According to the NFHS-5, the rates of all types of malnutrition among children in the age group of 5 years have come down in the state. NFHS-4 in the state has improved more than the national average in Survey-5 as compared to 2015-16.
• Due to the coordinated and effective implementation of departmental schemes in the state, the rate of severe malnutrition has come down by 29.3 percent. The position of Madhya Pradesh has improved by 13 ranks as compared to other states of the country. In this survey, Madhya Pradesh has moved from 30th place to 17^th place. While the rate of very severe malnutrition in the country has increased by 2.7 percent, Madhya Pradesh has registered a decline of 29.3 percent.
• The state ranks third in terms of improvement in westing among other states. The country has improved by 8.1 percent, while Madhya Pradesh has improved by 26.4 percent. The state was ranked 32^nd in NFHS-4, which has now come down to 24^th.
• The state ranks second in the country in improving the underweight category. There has been an improvement of 10.3 percent in the country, while in Madhya Pradesh there has been an improvement of 22.9 percent. The state was ranked 33^rd in NFHS-4, now it has come to 31^st position.
• Madhya Pradesh ranks sixth among the states with maximum improvement in stunting. There has been an improvement of 7.8 percent in the country, while there has been an improvement of 15 percent in the state. The state was ranked 32^nd in NFHS-4, which has now come down to 30th.
• The rate of child marriage has declined by 13.1 percent in the country, while Madhya Pradesh has registered a decline of 28.7 percent.
• Apart from this, the sex ratio at birth has improved by 1.1 percent in the country, while in Madhya Pradesh it has registered an improvement of 3.1 percent.

The Sex Ratio in Haryana has Increased by 57 Points: NFHS-5

Why in News

• Recently, according to the data of National Family Health Survey-5 (2020-2021) released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an increase of 57 points has been registered in the sex ratio in Haryana.

Key Points

• According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-2016), the sex ratio at the time of birth of children in the state was 836 and now it has increased by 57 points to 893 in the National Family Health Survey-5 (2020-2021).
• Assistance of volunteers was taken to identify clinical centers etc. to conduct sex determination tests in the state. In this regard, it was decided to give an amount of one lakh rupees as incentive to the informers who give accurate information.
• According to the Civil Registration System (CRS), the sex ratio at birth in Haryana was 871 in December 2014, which increased to 922 in December 2020.
• The Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015 from Panipat, Haryana, is showing positive results in the state, which has significantly improved the sex ratio with an increase of 57 points in the last 5 years.
• Since the beginning of this campaign, proactive measures were taken to increase the sex ratio in the state and eliminate the possibility of female feticide completely. Under the Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) and MTP Act, steps were taken on a large scale.
• Apart from this, women players who excel in sports like hockey and wrestling have also made a huge impact in changing the mindset of the people and this has also made it possible to increase the sex-ratio.
• Other initiatives like Ladli, Aapki Beti-Hamari Beti have also played an important role in increasing the sex ratio.

The People's Leader

Why in News

• On November 25, 2021, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Rabindra Nath Mahto released the book 'The People's Leader' based on the biography of former state minister and current MLA Saryu Rai in the assembly hall of Jharkhand Mantralaya.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the books written by MLA Saryu Rai inspire the State Government to move ahead with better management.
• On this occasion, the author of the book 'The People's Leader', Vivekanand Jha told that many unexplored aspects of personal, social, political life related to Saryu Rai have been depicted in this book.
• From the year 1974 student movement, role in Emergency, debut in politics, differences on various issues, role of exposing scams to many other events have been mentioned in this book.

Sustainable Development Goals Urban Index released by NITI Aayog: Raipur Urban Area Front Runner

Why in News

• Recently, Raipur urban area of Chhattisgarh state has been placed in the category of 'Front Runner' in the 'Sustainable Development Target Urban Index' released by NITI Aayog.

Key Points

• For the first time, the urban index has been released under such a sustainable development goal by NITI Aayog.
• In the index, 56 urban areas of the country have been ranked on the basis of progress achieved in 77 indices, in which Shimla is on the first rank with the highest score of 75.5. Raipur has secured 20th rank by securing 67.36 marks.
• According to the information received from the Chhattisgarh State Planning Commission, the score and rank of Raipur city in this index is better than many big and major cities like- Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Indore.
• The United Nations has set 17 SDG goals to ensure sustainable development. Countries and states are committed to fulfilling the objectives of SDGs.
• In the 'Sustainable Development Goals Urban Index', Raipur city has been ranked as SDG. The highest score was 86 in Goal 12 (Responsible Production and Consumption), 79 in Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Also in Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Good score has been received, due to which Raipur has been placed in the category of 'Front Runner'.

Dehradun's Poor Performance in NITI Aayog's SDG Urban Index

Why in News

• Recently, Uttarakhand's temporary capital Dehradun has performed poorly in the first 'Sustainable Development Goal Urban Index' released by NITI Aayog. It is ranked 35th out of 56 cities in the country with a score of 63.71 and is in the 'Performer' category.

Key Points

• For the first time under this type of sustainable development goal, urban index has been released by NITI Aayog.
• In the index, 56 urban areas of the country have been ranked on the basis of progress achieved in 77 indices, in which Shimla is on the first rank with the highest score of 75.5.
• The cities are divided on the basis of the score obtained out of 100. Cities with scores between 65 and 99 are classified as 'front-runners', cities with scores between 50 and 64 as 'performers' and cities with scores below 50 as 'aspirants'. At the same time, the city with 100 marks has been kept in the category of 'Achiever'.
• Cities were ranked on the basis of 14 sustainable goals such as good health and well-being, no poverty, quality education, affordable and green energy. Among these sustainable targets, Dehradun has performed poorly in three categories- zero hunger, industry, innovation and infrastructure and climate action with 45, 47 and 31 points respectively.
• Dehradun scored 52 to 59 in five categories - no poverty, good health and well-being, good work and economic development, reduction of inequalities and sustainable city and community. Whereas in the remaining seven categories, the economical and clean energy category has scored 72 to 96 marks with the highest marks.
• The United Nations has set 17 SDG goals to ensure sustainable development. Countries and states are committed to fulfilling the objectives of SDGs.