• 29 Apr 2022

Picture of drought-hit Bundelkhand changing from check dams and ponds

Why In News?

Recently, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said that the construction of new check dams and ponds is ensuring availability of drinking water for the animals along with the increase in agricultural yield in the area.

Key Point

• The Department of Minor Irrigation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti has completed the construction of 317 check dams and restoration of 218 ponds under the third phase of Bundelkhand package. Under the scheme, a target of construction of 328 check dams and 238 ponds has been set.
• It is worth mentioning that Bundelkhand is a drought-hit plateau region, which covers 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh and 8 districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• In view of the problem of water scarcity in Bundelkhand region, an agreement has been signed between the two States (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) regarding Ken-Betwa Link Project.

Block Health Fair Inaugurated

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, Rajasthan's Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Tikaram Julie inaugurated the Block Health Fair at Umrain in Alwar district of the state.

Key Point

• The fair was organized by the Department of Medical, Health and Family Welfare.
• The main objective of this fair is to make the public aware of their health and to provide the benefits of the schemes of the departments along with the treatment of diseases.
• Tikaram Juli informed that the State Government is committed to provide better and free medical care to every citizen of the State with a resolve to provide better and free medical care to every citizen of the State with a resolve to provide a healthy Rajasthan.
• The 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana' was launched in the state from May 1, 2021, under which cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh can now be availed.

IBC Excellence Award, 2021

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore has honoured Rajasthan Awasan Mandal (RHB) with the prestigious IBC Award for the year 2021.

Key Point

• The award was presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Indian Building Congress held at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi.
• Chief Engineer of Rajasthan Housing Board K.C. Meena was also honoured with the IBC Presidential Award for his distinguished services, commitment and dedication.
• The Indian Building Congress has conferred the award to the Board for 'Construction of HIG 104 Flats' (B+S+13), a high-income housing project of the Mandal in the 'Excellence in Built Environment-2021' category.
• The Indian Building Congress (IBC) is a national body of professionals, which was established to promote sustainable built environment with cost-competitive technologies.
• Established with the support of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, this body confers the IBC Award every year for 'Excellence in Built Environment' in various categories of buildings.

Indigenous navigation system 'Gagan'

Why In News?

On February 28, 2022, IndiGo issued a statement informing that IndiGo has become the first airline in the country to land an aircraft using the indigenous navigation system 'Gagan'.

key point

• The landing took place at Kishangarh airport in Rajasthan.
• 'Gagan' is used to guide the landing of an aircraft near the runway.
• Its accuracy is particularly useful at small airports where equipment landing systems (ILSs) have not been installed.
• With this, India has become the third country in the world after the US and Japan to have its SBAS (Satellite Based Aaugmentation System) system.
• It may be mentioned that GAGAN is India's satellite based air navigation system, developed by ISRO and Airports Authority of India.

Three-day 'MP Auto-Show-2022' in Indore

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, a three-day auto expo 'Madhya Pradesh Auto-Show-2022' was launched in Indore to promote auto industries in Madhya Pradesh. The auto-show will be held till April 30 at The Super Corridor and Natrex Auto Testing Track, Pithampur.

Key Point

• To make Madhya Pradesh an automobile hub, the three-day auto-show is being organized by the state government in Indore through the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC).
• The main objective of the show is to promote the auto sector in the state, so that investment and employment opportunities can increase in the state.
• About 100 most reputed automobile manufacturing and automobile component manufacturing companies from across the country and abroad are participating in the auto-show. All these companies will display their products.
• It will display all types of vehicles such as e-vehicles, fuelled passenger cars, commercial vehicles, agricultural vehicles, agricultural vehicles and earthmoving and construction vehicles.
• The special equipment that makes Indore number one in cleanliness, which are used by municipal corporation Indore, will also be showcased at the auto-show. Around 10 auto companies will launch their products at the Auto Expo.
• In order to encourage startups in Madhya Pradesh, a separate startup zone has been created in auto-shows in which various startups belonging to the auto sector have been provided space at no charge.
• To encourage investment in the state, the auto-show will have sessions on various sectors including various meetings such as buyers' seller meet, business-to-government meet, business-to-business meet, as well as the policies of the state.
• Through AutoShow-2022, various auto companies will be briefed about Asia's largest auto testing track Natrex developed at Pithampur. At the same time, the facilities available in Natrex will be made aware of how testing facilities can be availed in their business.
• Recreational events like super car and super bike rally, drag race, demo of various testing tracks and go-cart will also be held at Pithampur, the Natrex auto testing track.

Tendu leaves collection rate is now 3 thousand rupees per standard bag

Why In News?

On April 27, 2022, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department issued orders for fixing the tendu leaf collection rate at Rs 3,000 per standard sack for the 2022 storage period for 45 lakh tendu leaf collectors in the state.

Key Point

• It may be recalled that on April 22, 2022, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Forest Committees Conference, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced to increase the rate of tendu leaf collection.
• The collection rate till 2021 was Rs.2500 per standard sack. A target of 16.29 lakh standard bora has been set this year.
• Pushkar Singh, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Small Forest Produce Association, said that the work of collection of tendu leaves is done by the State Small Forest Produce Association. This collection is done through 60 District Forest Produce Cooperative Unions and 1066 Primary Forest Produce Cooperative Societies in the State.
• At present there are 45 lakh tendu leaf collectors in the state. Of these, more than 50 per cent of the 23 lakh collectors belong to the tribal category. Similarly, 40 per cent are women collectors.
• The increase in the rate of tenduleaf collection this year will result in a collection remuneration of Rs.500 crores to the collectors engaged in the collection work. This will be an additional remuneration of Rs.81 crores as compared to the previous year, which will help in providing additional means of employment in the summer season.
• Managing Director Pushkar Singh said that the amount of dividend is also distributed to the tenduleaf collectors. It has been decided earlier to increase the net dividend from 70 per cent to 75 per cent directly to tendu leaf collectors from this year.

Pharma Tech Expo & Lab Tech Expo-2022

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal inaugurated the Pharma Tech Expo and Lab Tech Expo-2022 in Chandigarh.

Key Point

• The Chief Secretary informed that the objective of this expo is to attract business opportunities for each participant.
• Such expo provides a golden opportunity for each participant to gain information about the potential and potential of proper use of innovations and tools.
• Sanjeev Kaushal informed that the State of Haryana is an ideal destination for the development of pharmaceutical business and investment in pharma sector and the State Government is also providing various financial incentives to the investors through pharmaceutical policy.
• It may be mentioned that the expo was organized under the banner of Haryana Trade Fair Authority by the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India and Pharma Technology Index.com. Ltd. it is being done in collaboration.
• Chief Administrator of Haryana Trade Fair Authority, Dr. G. Anupama informed that Haryana is the leading state in terms of ease of doing business and due to the continuous efforts of the state government, pharma exports from the state in the year 2021 have been about Rs.1500 crore.
• Pharma Tech Expo and Lab Tech Expo-2022, It will run till April 30, with over 200 companies showcasing their products. Out of these, more than 40 companies are from the state of Haryana.

Launch of Rail Industrial Park in Hathkhoj and various infrastructure in Bhilai

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the newly constructed Rail Industrial Park at Hathkhoj located in Bhilai industrial area of Durg district and the infrastructure constructed at Bhilai, a heavy and light industrial area, at Bhilai.

Key Point

• It is worth mentioning that there are 22 plots in the rail park. Provision of CC Road, Pipeline, Overhead Tank, Street Lights etc.
• Rail Industrial Park will rapidly expand industrial activities here. Having better infrastructure will benefit the units manufacturing equipment for the Railways.
• The entrepreneurs will be benefited by the availability of infrastructure at one place and it will be easier for the Railways to become a rail park.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister also dedicated a four-and-a-half km CC road in the light and heavy industrial area. The cost is Rs.12 crores.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government has so far signed 167 MoUs. An investment of Rs.78,000 crore is proposed in the state through these, out of which the process of setting up 90 units has also started.

50 new Eklavya residential schools will open in the state

Why In News?

On April 28, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain directed the departmental officers to pay special attention to the facilities of students in the Eklavya Vidyalayas being opened in the state.

Key Point

• It may be recalled that 50 new Eklavya Vidyalayas have been sanctioned by the Government of India in Chhattisgarh in tribal areas. Children from class VI to XII will get education in these residential schools. There is a provision to provide education to 420 children in each school.
• In Chhattisgarh, these 50 Eklavya Vidyalayas are being set up in 17 districts of Balrampur, Bijapur, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Bastar, Dantewada, Gariaband, Jashpur, Kondagaon, Korba, Koriya, Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Sukma, Surajpur, Sarguja, Kanker and Narayanpur.
• These are the 50 Eklavya Schools:
  • In Balrampur - in village Barikala, Ramnagar, Devigang, Dohna and Buda Garden (Nawapara)
  • In Bijapur - in Nukanpal, Rudraram and Dugaguda
  • In Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi - Lata and Nevasa in Pendraroad
  • In Bastar - In Metawara Koypal, Gotia, Kodenar and Chhindwara
  • In Dantewada - in Metapal, Haram and Kuakonda
  • In Gariaband - in Girhola
  • In Jashpur - in Gholeng, Raumakala (Sukhrapara), Dhundrudand, Kardana and Pandripani
  • In Kondagaon - in Bedma, Korgaon, Shampur and Chichari
  • In Korba - in Lafa and Rampur
  • In Korea - in Ghughra and Jamthan
  • In Raigarh - byasi, chattangarh and potra
  • In Rajnandgaon - in Khawashfakadi and Meding-Pinding Dhenu
  • In Sukma - in Erabor and Balatikara (Chhindgarh)
  • In Surajpur - in Khorma, Paldanoli and Bakirma
  • In Surguja - in Rikhi, Sahanpur, Petla and Sheopur
  • In Kanker - in Anjani, Farsakote, Hilchur and Narharpur
  • In Narayanpur - in Orchha