• 27 Dec 2023

Ease of Doing Business Reforms

Why in News?

According to the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Rajasthan has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform. Thus, the State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs. 2,731 crore through Open Market Borrowings.

• The other five states on the list are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Key Points

• The ease of doing business is an important indicator of the investment friendly business climate in the country.
• In May 2020, the Government of India granted additional borrowing permissions to States who undertake the reforms to facilitate ease of doing business. The reforms set forth in this category are:
  • Completion of first assessment of ‘District Level Business Reform Action Plan’.
  • Elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates/approvals/licences obtained by businesses under various Acts.
  • Allocation of inspectors by implementation of computerized central random inspection system.
• To address the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government increased the borrowing limit of the States by 2% of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Half of this allowance was tied to the States implementing citizen-centric reforms in four areas:
  • Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System
  • Ease of doing business reform
  • Urban Local body/ utility reforms
  • Power Sector reforms

Note

Open Market Borrowings (OMBs) is a method of raising funds by corporates or government entities by issuing securities such as bonds, debentures, or treasury bills to the public.

• These securities are issued in the open market and are available to purchase by anyone interested in investing in them. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulates the OMBs in India.

Rajasthan Scraps Youth Internship Scheme

Why in News?

The newly elected Rajasthan government has decided to scrap ‘Rajeev Gandhi Yuva Mitra Internship Scheme’ (RGYMIS) from 31st December 2023.

Key Points

• Launched in 2021-22, the scheme aimed to provide practical work experience to young graduates and help them develop their skills and knowledge.
• Under this the interns were placed in various government departments and agencies, and they were provided a stipend of up to Rs 10,000.
  • Around 50,000 youngsters were enrolled under this program.
• According to the Department of Economics and Statistics, the scheme was brought in to develop a pool of intellectual and self-motivated youths named Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitras (RYM).
  • The initiative also aimed to educate people about governance and build their confidence in the government and ensure that their basic needs are met at their doorsteps.
• Some important state initiative schemes are:
  • Mukhyamantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
  • Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS)
  • Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushal Yojana.

Drones: Mapping Lands, Fighting Crimes and Boosting Agriculture

Why in News?

According to officials, Drones are becoming integral to Haryana’s governance strategy, from enhancing traffic and crime surveillance to revolutionising agricultural practices.

Key Points

• In a meeting conducted by the Drone Imaging and Information Systems of Haryana (DRIISHYA) Limited, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal explored the ways to harness the potential of drone technology across diverse sectors.
• To cater to the increasing demand, the agency is collaborating with DCP Traffic, Gurgaon and will be introducing drone-based land surveying on national highways.
• The agency is also set to augment its fleet with 20 new large-scale drones and six specialised agricultural drones designed for nano-fertiliser spraying demonstrations.
• DRIISHYA saw a recent recruitment drive of 20 drones and 16 co-pilots with rigorous examinations conducted in partnership with Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal (Sonipat).

Illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking Cases

Why in News?

According to the sources, there is an increase in the Illegal immigration and human trafficking cases in northern districts of Haryana.

Key Points

• Residents of Haryana have paid large amounts of money to reach abroad through illegal means in search of a better livelihood.
  • United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), and Canada are preferred destinations of these residents.
• According to the Haryana police there are 645 registered cases related to immigration fraud and human trafficking.
• Due to this a state-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, which is headed by Ambala range Inspector General of Police (IGP).
• The active districts for Illegal immigration and human trafficking are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, parts of Yamunanagar, Jind and Fatehabad.

Uttar Pradesh’s First Intra-District Helicopter Route

Why in News?

On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the state’s first intra-district helicopter service from Bateshwar in Agra to Goverdhan in Mathura.

• During the ceremony, a statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also unveiled.

Key Points

• The helicopter service is based on the Private-Public Partnership (PPP), which will be operated by a private company from Uttarakhand.
• Projects worth ₹100 crore are also inaugurated which aims at bringing new life to Bateshwar, a historical village located amid the ravines of Chambal across the borders of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Previously, a helicopter service was available for Goverdhan, a pilgrimage site in Mathura, but it flew within the district for pilgrims interested in lodging ‘parikrama’ (circumambulation) of the coveted Goverdhan hillock.

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee:

• He was born on 25^th December 1924 in the erstwhile princely state of Gwalior.
• He was the former Prime Minister of India and was elected to the position twice in 1996 and 1999.
• He was conferred with the country's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna in 2015 and second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan in 1994.

Green Hydrogen Policy in UP

Why in News?

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued directives to officials to expedite the formulation of a Green Hydrogen Policy.

Key Points

• To encourage the firms working in the green hydrogen sector maximum incentives will be given.
• Benefits like availability of land, exemption from stamp duty and electricity duty, capital and interest subsidy, attractive incentives, etc., will be given to the companies.

Strict Land Laws in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

The Uttarakhand government is likely to implement stringent land laws, making it challenging for non-natives to buy land and own houses in the rural areas of the state's hills.

Key Points

• The proposed law, influenced by the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972 aims to safeguard the interests of the state by limiting land acquisition in rural hill areas.
• In 2003, outsiders were allowed to purchase land in hilly areas, but with a limit of 500 sqm.
  • Subsequent governments reduced this limit to 250 sqm to prevent large-scale land transactions.
• In 2017, the then Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat lifted these restrictions to attract investments in hilly regions.
• Due to protests in various districts, the state government formed a five-member committee to study a draft report submitted by a panel headed by ex-chief secretary in 2022.
  • The report recommends capping land purchases in urban areas, addressing concerns about outside investors exploiting the state's resources which may lead to a reinstatement of the 12.5-acre limit for land transactions in the hills.
  • However, residents are advocating for stricter measures, including the limit for municipal areas to 250 sqm and imposing a complete ban on rural land sales.