• 28 Oct 2023

Uttar Pradesh Becomes the State with the Fourth Largest Startup Ecosystem in the Country.

Why In News?

• According to a recent report by KPMG, an agency compiling investment data in the state, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the state with the fourth largest startup ecosystem in the country.

Key Points:

• At present, there are more than 108 unicorn startups in the country, of which eight are from Uttar Pradesh. All the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh have startups, including eight unicorns and many are fast moving towards becoming unicorns.
• According to the KPMG report, Paytm, Paytm Mall, India Mart, Moglix, Pine Labs, Innovator, Info Edge and Physics from Uttar Pradesh have been included in the country's unicorn startups.
• Unicorns are startups that have a valuation of more than one billion dollars. Similarly, a unicorn is a startup that has the potential to become a unicorn soon. At present, two unicorn startups are working in the state, their names are Class Plus and Inshorts.
• According to the report, 49 percent of startups in Uttar Pradesh belong to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. More than one lakh jobs have been created by the startup ecosystem in the state.
• The state government had set a target of 10,000 startups by the year 2025, against which this target has been achieved only by the middle of the year 2023.

Emphasis on Maize Production for Ethanol in Bihar, Target of Planting 100 Percent Hybrid Seeds

Why In News?

• According to the information given by the Bihar Agriculture Department on October 26, 2023, the state government has decided to increase the area of maize in the state to increase the production of ethanol. The government plans to focus on maize cultivation in all districts and plant 100 percent hybrid seeds.

Key Points:

• According to the Bihar Agriculture Department, the government plans to expand the area of maize cultivation in all 38 districts of the state. Maize is most commonly cultivated by farmers in the north and eastern plains.
• President Draupadi Murmu had recently launched Bihar's fourth agriculture roadmap (2023-2028) in Patna, with an emphasis on increasing ethanol. Maize can play a big role in increasing the production of ethanol.
• The Bihar government has set a target of planting hybrid maize 'hybrid' seeds with an aim to achieve maximum production in the Rabi season. In Rabi, 100 percent hybrid seeds of maize seeds are being planted. For this, initiatives are being taken to provide other facilities to the farmers in addition to subsidies on seeds.
• According to the Bihar Agriculture Department, this time a target has been set to cultivate maize in 1.50 lakh acres area in the state, in which a target of maize production will also be fixed up to about 12 thousand quintals.
• The Agriculture Department has also directed all Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Agricultural Universities, Farmer Advisors and Agriculture Coordinators to make farmers aware.

Significant Increase in the Honorarium of Members including Mayor and Chairman of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Committees.

Why In News?

• On October 26, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal, while addressing a press conference to mark the completion of nine years of the state government, announced a significant increase in the honorarium of members including mayors and chairman of municipal corporations, municipal councils and committees. The increased honorarium will be given from October 1, 2023.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the monthly honorarium of the mayor has been increased from Rs 20,500 to Rs 30,000. Similarly, the honorarium of senior deputy mayor has been increased from Rs 16,500 to Rs 25,000, deputy mayor's honorarium from Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000 and councilors' honorarium from Rs 10,500 to Rs 15,000.
• Apart from this, he announced an increase in the pension of Hindi movement satyagrahis and emergency victims from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 and a 4 percent increase in the DA of government employees.
• He said that the honorarium of municipal council president has been increased from Rs 10,500 to Rs 18,000, vice-president from Rs 7,500 to Rs 12,000, councilors' honorarium from Rs 7,500 to Rs 12,000.
• The honorarium of president of municipal committees has been increased from Rs 6,500 to Rs 10,000, vice-president from Rs 4,500 to Rs 8,000 and councilors' honorarium from Rs 4,500 to Rs 8,000.
• The honorarium of zila parishad presidents has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, vice-presidents from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000 and members from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000.
• Apart from this, the honorarium of panchayat samiti presidents has been increased from Rs 7,500 to Rs 15,000, the honorarium of vice-presidents from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,000 and the honorarium of members from Rs 1,600 to Rs 3,000.
• The Chief Minister said that the present state government is providing a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to the mother tongue satyagrahis and emergency victims and widows of the Hindi movement-1957. This pension amount is also increased to 15 thousand rupees.
• He said that based on family identity card data, an old age Samman pension has been made for 42,431 people who have completed 60 years of age. With the formation of PPP, people no longer must visit offices to get the benefits of government facilities.
• The Chief Minister has announced a 4 percent increase in the DA of government employees. He said that the central government has increased the DA of government employees from 42 percent to 46 percent. Now from July 1, 2023, about 3.5 lakh employees of Haryana will also get the benefit of additional 4 percent DA.

Ideathon Haryana

Why In News?

• On October 26, 2023, a spokesperson of Haryana Skill Development Mission (HSDM) said that the department is organizing 'Ideathon Haryana' competition, for which registration has started from October 20 and it will be open till November 5, 2023.

Key Points:

• A spokesman of the Mission (HSDM) said that youth studying in ITIs and polytechnic institutes and having passed diploma can participate in the 'Ideathon Haryana' competition.
• This competition has been started for the youth of the said institutes of all 22 districts of Haryana. All the districts have been divided into seven zones for ease of registration.
• A total of 21 awards, including three winners, will be given in each zone. The award ceremony will carry cash prizes of Rs 31,000, Rs 21,000 and Rs 11,000 in the form of gold, silver and bronze prizes for each zone.

Now 'Aadhaar Card' Based Attendance will be done at Skill Development Training centers

Why In News?

• On October 25, 2023, Director of Haryana Skill Development Mission Dr. Vivek Agarwal informed that the state government has decided to start 'Aadhaar card' based attendance at all the training centers of the state being run for the training of youth under the Haryana Skill Development Mission.

Key Points:

• In the first phase, a pilot scheme was started at three training centers, which has been successful. In view of this success, now the 'Aadhaar Card' based attendance of youth is being started at all training centers across the state.
• Director Dr. Vivek Agarwal informed that short-term skill development training is organized at training centers in collaboration with training partners in all districts of the state. These training courses are of three to four months duration in various NSQF aligned courses.
• Many training courses like Assistant Electrician, Data Entry Operator, Beautician, Warehouse Packer, Operator, Junior Analyst, Self Employed Tailor, Yoga Instructor, Installation Technician, Craft Baker are conducted at these training centers.
• Dr. Agarwal said that on some complaints about the presence of youth undergoing training at various training centers running under Haryana Skill Development Mission, the mission acted and started Aadhaar card-based e-verification system in three training centers Kurukshetra, Indri (Karnal) and Rewari as a pilot project. Its result was found satisfactory, so the mission will implement it soon at all the centers of the state in the future.

Only Green Firecrackers will be Sold and Used in the State

Why In News?

• According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on October 26, 2023, only the use and sale of green fire-crackers will be allowed in the state. Also, a two-hour period has been fixed for bursting fire-crackers on the occasion of Deepawali, Chhath, Guru Parv, New Year/ Christmas.

Key Points:

• The district administration officials have been directed to strictly follow the directions regarding the use of firecrackers as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.
• A two-hour period has been fixed for bursting firecrackers on the occasion of Deepawali, Chhath Puja, Guru Parv, New Year/Christmas. The timings for Deepawali have been fixed from 8 pm to 10 pm, Chhath Puja from 6 am to 8 am, Guru Parv from 8 pm to 10 pm. The time for Christmas/New Year has been fixed from 11.55 pm to 12.30 pm.
• In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section 5 of section 19 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the state government has prohibited the burning of firecrackers in urban areas of Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai-Durg, Raigarh and Korba from December 1 to January 31.
• According to the order passed by the Supreme Court on November 23, 2018, some other instructions have also been given regarding the use of firecrackers. Instructions have been given to sell improved and green firecrackers that cause less pollution only by licensed traders.
• Also, only those firecrackers can be sold in the market for use, whose level of sound is within the prescribed limit. The sale, use and manufacture of series firecrackers or sticks has been banned.
• Directions have also been issued to cancel the license of manufacturers of firecrackers who have used lithium, arsenic, antimony, lead and mercury in firecrackers. The sale of firecrackers online, i.e. e-commerce websites, such as Flipkart, Amazon etc. will be prohibited.