• 28 Jun 2023

Solar Boat to be operated to encourage Water Transport & Tourism in the state

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, an MoU was signed between the UP New & Renewable Energy Development Agency and the UP State Tourism Development Limited for the operation of solar-powered boats, under which Solar Boats will be operated in rivers and lakes to promote water transport & tourism in the state.

Key Points:

• It has been decided to operate solar boats in rivers and lakes located at 17 places in different municipal corporations.
• In the first phase, it will run at 5 religious places including Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura. It will start from Ayodhya. Uttar Pradesh is the first state to do such an experiment.
• 30 state-of-the-art solar boats will be started operating in the Saryu river of Ayodhya. The boat will enable devotees to visit the Saryu river and also promote water tourism. The boat, which costs around Rs 1 crore, will be able to seat 12 to 15 people at a time.
• After Ayodhya, solar boats will be started in Kashi, Mathura, Prayagraj and Garhmukteshwar. After this, in the next session, this facility will be provided in Chitrakoot, Agra, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur and other riverside cities.
• Initially, the solar boat will be operated by UP NEDA on an experimental basis for six months through a supplier firm. After this, regular operation of solar boats will be done by tourism development corporations through private entrepreneurs by selecting an experienced institution.

Chief Justice released the book 'RSLSA (RALSA) at a Glance'

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, a book titled 'RSLSA at a Glance' was released by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court and Chief Patron of RSLSA (RALSA) Augustine George Masih at The Rajasthan High Court Main Bench (Jodhpur).

Key Points:

• Along with this, two public welfare schemes were launched for the benefit of especially deserving people to ensure their identity cards and to provide various welfare schemes such as artificial limbs & other benefits.
• Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava, Judge of Rajasthan High Court and Executive Chairman of RALSA said that the book 'RSLSA at a Glance' will be released to provide UDID training to persons with disabilities. To get the benefit of certificates and other government schemes, the scheme and the scheme of Model Legal Service Center have been launched in the Remote Taluka Legal Service Committee in every division.
• With this scheme launched in the direction of identification of specially disabled people, every specially-abled person will be able to get a disability certificate i.e. UDID, where in the absence of UDID, no person will be deprived of getting the welfare schemes or artificial limbs of the state.
• By organizing legal awareness programs in the model talukas identified by RALSA, the general public will not only be made aware of the law but they will also be informed about the government schemes and their benefits will be ensured.
• Chief Justice Augustine George Masih said the book 'Ralsa at a Glance' gives a glimpse of the commendable achievements of RALSA and its unwavering commitment towards providing legal aid to the underprivileged.
• This scheme of identifying specially-abled persons and providing UDID to them is definitely a progressive step. This will enable the specially-abled people to join the mainstream of society as well as get equal rights and opportunities.
• The Model Legal Services Centres started by RALSA will provide legal aid to needy people irrespective of their social and economic status, thereby empowering them to deal with the legal scenario.

Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centers to be set up in 36 jurisdictions

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the setting up of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres at the headquarters of 36 jurisdictions in the state.

Key Points:

• With the establishment of Vulnerable Witness Deposit Centers, victims of child & sexual offences and other sensitive witnesses in the state will be able to testify in a safe environment.
• The Chief Minister has approved Rs 9.56 crore for the establishment of the centres.
• It is worth mentioning that the Chief Minister had announced in this regard in the budget year 2023-24.

PM flags off 5 new Vande Bharat Express trains from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, Bhopal

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off five new & upgraded versions of Vande Bharat Express trains connecting the capitals of Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka at Rani Kamlapati station in Bhopal.

Key Points:

• Ushering a new era of rail travel with a comfortable and enhanced experience, five new Vande Bharat Express trains have been introduced between Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur, Rani Kamlapati-Indore, Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai, Ranchi-Patna and Dharwad-Bengaluru.
• With the addition of these five new Vande Bharat Express trains, a total of 23 Vande Bharat trains are now operational in the country. These trains are saving several hours in travel time as compared to the fastest trains currently running on various routes.
• These Vande Bharat trains will improve connectivity between various state capitals and other cities, reduce travel time and make travel more comfortable.
• Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express
  • The Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Rani Kamlapati railway station and reach Jabalpur station the same day, stopping at Narsinghpur, Pipariya & Narmadapuram railway stations.
  • Rani Kamlapati-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express will connect Mahakaushal Kshetra (Jabalpur) with Madhya Pradesh Central Region (Bhopal).
  • With the commencement of the operation of Vande Bharat Train, the connectivity of Jabalpur, the cultural capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal and surrounding religious & tourist places will increase as well as the all-around development of this area.
  • This train will run from Bhopal to Jabalpur for 340 km. The distance will now be covered in four and a half hours.
• Rani Kamlapati-Indore Vande Bharat Express
  • Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Bhopal railway station & stop at Ujjain railway station and reach Indore station on the same day.
  • The Vande Bharat train will run between Rani Kamlapati and Indore covering a distance of 269 km from Bhopal to Indore. The distance will now be covered in three and a half hours. At the same time, it will become an important medium to connect the culture, tourism and pilgrimage sites of these areas.
• Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express:
  • The Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station and reach Madgaon station the same day, stopping at Dadar, Thane, Panvel, Khed, Ratnagiri, Kankavli and Thivim railway stations.
  • This state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will provide a means for the people of the Konkan region to travel with speed and comfort. This will boost tourism in the region. It is expected that the new Vande Bharat train running on this route will add new dimensions to the convenience of tourists.
• Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express:
  • Ranchi-Patna's new Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Patna and reach Ranchi station the same day, stopping at Gaya, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Barkakana and Mesra railway stations.
  • Rich in abundant mineral resources, Ranchi is an ideal place for mineral-based industries. This train will prove to be beneficial for local traders and businessmen in terms of establishing fast connectivity with Patna.
• Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express
  • The Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express train will depart from KSR Bengaluru City and reach Dharwad station the same day, stopping at Yeshwantpur, Davangere and Hubli railway stations.
  • In Karnataka, the Dharwad-Bengaluru Vande Bharat train vidya will connect Kashi Dharwad, the commercial town, Hubli and Bengaluru. This Vande Bharat train will connect North Karnataka with South Karnataka.
• The Vande Bharat Express trains offer a variety of superior facilities, which will provide passengers with a world-class comfortable travel experience and advanced state-of-the-art security arrangements including armour technology.
• Each train covers a distance of 160 km. Coaches equipped with fully suspended traction motors have been provided for operational speeds of up to 100 mph. The advanced state-of-the-art suspension system ensures smooth and safe travel and better comfortable riding for the passengers.
• These trains have been designed with an aim to boost the green emissions of Indian Railways by saving about 30 per cent electricity along with power cars and advanced regenerative braking systems.

Haryana's 'Udanpari' - Great Grandmother won Gold medal in 100 meter Race

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on June 27, 2023, in the 18th Yuvarani Mahendra Kumari National Athletics Championship held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, along with the youth, and elderly players from all over the country showed their strength, in which 106-year-old 'Udanpari'- Pardadi, a Great Grandmother named Rambai of Haryana won the gold medal by winning the first place in the 100 meters race.

Key Points:

• In the National Athletics Championships, 'Udanpari'-Pardadi Rambai participated with her three generations. Rambai won 100 meters, and her daughter Santra and granddaughter Sharmila Sangwan covered 5 km. Participated in the race.
• Rambai, who hails from Village Kadma in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana, has made history by winning 4 gold medals in the 100, 200 m race, relay race, and long jump with her three generations in the national level athletics championships.
• Rambai is the oldest woman in her village and is called 'Udanpari' and 'Pardadi'. She runs 5-6 km every morning to keep herself fit.
• Ramabai started competitive races at the age of 104. She also won a double gold medal at the National Open Masters Athletics Championships in Vadodara, Gujarat.

A Gift of Vande Bharat Express to Jharkhand

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express train online from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal, with which Vande Bharat left Ranchi for Patna.

Key Points:

• Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express is the first Vande Bharat train for Jharkhand and Bihar.
• Ranchi-Patna New Vande Bharat Express train will depart from Patna and reach Ranchi station on the same day stopping at Gaya, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Barkakana and Mesra railway stations.
• Rich in abundant mineral resources, Ranchi is an ideal place for mineral-based industries. This train will prove beneficial for local traders and businessmen in terms of establishing fast connectivity with Patna.
• Increasing connectivity between Patna and Ranchi, this train will prove to be a boon for tourists, students and businessmen.
• On the first day of departure of Vande Bharat Express, children from various schools were given free travel.
• It is known that now a total of 23 Vande Bharat trains are operating in the country. These trains are saving several hours in travel time as compared to the fastest trains currently running on various routes.
• Vande Bharat Express will provide a world-class experience to passengers and promote tourism.

World Bank approves Rs 2460 crore to Improve the Quality of School Education

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Public Relations Department of Chhattisgarh on June 27, 2023, the World Bank has given about 2460 crores to Chhattisgarh to increase the quality of education with better infrastructure in the schools of Chhattisgarh, to encourage the education of science and commerce at the senior secondary level. Sanctioned an amount of Rs. About 40 lakh students coming from poor and weaker sections will be benefited from this project.

Key Points:

• It is worth mentioning that on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, along with strengthening school education in Chhattisgarh, Swami Atmanand English and Hindi medium schools are being started to provide quality education to the talented students of the poor class. Apart from this, many innovative initiatives are also being taken in the field of education.
• Chhattisgarh Accelerated Learning for Knowledge Economy Operation (CHALK) project has been launched keeping in view the increasing demand for science and commerce at the senior secondary level, ensuring access to education at all levels. Through this project, better facilities for teaching and learning are also being made available in schools located in remote areas.
• In this series, with the help of the World Bank, to encourage science and commerce education in secondary schools of the state, increase the number of science and mathematics teachers, as well as strengthen the necessary infrastructure in laboratories, students coming from remote places to study. A project has been prepared for arranging accommodation for students, increasing the enrollment rate of students in schools and providing quality education.
• This World Bank project will help develop and operate about 600 model schools from class 1 to 12 and encourage science and commerce education at the secondary level.
• Trained teachers, strong leadership and adequate infrastructure for learning management will be provided in the schools. The project will reduce learning loss during COVID-19.
• The teachers' training through the project will improve the teachers' ability to teach in the classroom as well as enhance the student's ability to learn the subject matter. This project will increase employment opportunities for the youth in the fast-growing construction and service sectors in Chhattisgarh.

Horticulture will now be done with Israeli Agricultural Technology

Why in News?

On June 27, 2023, a meeting of the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project was held at the Raj Bhavan in Dehradun under the chairmanship of Governor Lt. General Gurmit Singh (Retd), in which it was said that horticulture would be promoted in the state with the help of Israel's agricultural techniques.

Key Points:

• For this, a Center of Excellence will be set up in the state under the Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project. Israel has the technology of dry land farming, in which more crops are produced by using less water.
• In the meeting, the governor said that there is a need to work in mission mode by preparing a road map for Israeli technology in the state. For this, a plan should be made by the Horticulture Department and Pantnagar Agricultural University.
• He symbolically gifted the honey of Kedarghati of Uttarakhand to the Indo-Israeli delegates.
• Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi said that the India-Israel agriculture project aims to increase productivity with less water use while promoting crop diversification. The Center of Excellence based on Israel Agricultural Technology will increase the production of horticulture crops in the state. Farmers will get its benefit.
• A team from Uttarakhand will soon go to Israel to learn agricultural techniques.
• Yair Ishel, who came from the Israel Embassy, said that 24 Centers of Excellence have been established under the Indo-Israeli Agriculture Project. Keeping in view the possibilities of horticulture in the plains and valley areas of the state, a centre will also be set up in Uttarakhand. In this cooperation of Pant Nagar University will be taken.