• 29 Jun 2022

Approval of Investment Proposals Under Data Center Policy

Why in News?

• On June 28, 2022, the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved four investment proposals regarding incentives for setting up data parks under 'Uttar Pradesh Data Center Policy-2021' to localize data storage.

Key Point

• The cabinet's decision will also give a boost to the development of data center parks in Uttar Pradesh, while giving a boost to the state towards becoming 'self-reliant' in data storage. The move will provide direct and indirect employment to many people in the state.
• Considering the importance of data centers, Yogi Adityanath's government had prepared the 'Data Centre Policy-2021' in its previous tenure. Various financial and other incentives have been given under the policy.
• Of the investment proposals worth over Rs 80,000 crore at the groundbreaking ceremony held in the state recently, about Rs 20,000 crore was for setting up of data centers.
• The work of setting up four data center parks in the state with an investment of over Rs.15,950 crore is under process. These include two projects worth Rs 9134.90 crore by NIDP Developers Pvt. Ltd. of Hiranandani Group, Rs 1,687 crore by NTT Global Centers and Japan's Cloud Infrastructure India Pvt Ltd and Rs 2,414 crore and Rs 2713 crore by Adani Enterprises Ltd.
• In view of the growing interest of investors in the IT sector, the Chief Minister has declared Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway areas as 'Electronics Manufacturing Zones'. As a result, many reputed companies from China, Taiwan and Korea have come forward to set up their units.

ITI Students Will Get Scholarship

Why in News?

• On June 28, 2022, an order was issued by Gajendra Mishra, Joint Secretary, Labor Resources Department of Bihar, regarding grant of scholarship to about two lakh students of private ITIs.

Key Point

• ITI students were deprived of scholarships due to non-issuance of orders from the state government following the central government's order. Taking cognizance of this, the Bihar government has announced that two lakh ITI students from Bihar studying in private Industrial Training Institutes (Private ITIs) will now get the benefit of scholarship.
• The amount of scholarship to two lakh students studying in private ITIs will be Rs 10,400 for students studying in engineering trade and Rs 8,480 for non-engineering students by the state government. The rest of the fee will be borne by the Central Government as scholarship.
• It is worth mentioning that the central government has fixed the annual training fee for engineering and non-engineering students of ITI. Under this, 26 thousand rupees have been fixed for engineering trade and 21 thousand 200 rupees for non-engineering.
• From 2024, a uniform growth at the rate of 5 percent per annum will be permissible. The fee structure will be reviewed by the Directorate General of Training after five years.
• As soon as the government order is issued, students studying in all the private ITIs in the state will have to pay the above fee from the session 2022-23 .

Festival of Innovations and Technologies of Rajasthan

Why in News?

• On June 28, 2022, in the meeting of the State Innovation Council, which was chaired by the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, Usha Sharma, it was decided that on the occasion of World Creativity and Innovation Day every year on 21st April, 'Festival of Innovations and Technologies of Rajasthan' in the state, will be organized.

Key Point

• It was also decided to honor the best innovations that take place in the districts of the state on 15th August and 26th January every year with the objective of promoting innovations and making them show-case at the national and international level.
• The Chief Secretary also directed to ensure proper budget availability to promote innovation in the State.
• Letters have also been written to encourage innovations in the districts and to identify the best innovations so that the state can move faster in the field of innovation.
• It is worth mentioning that the state has a lot of potential for innovations in agriculture, animal husbandry, education, medicine, industry, science and technology and other sectors.

Important Decisions of the State Council of Ministers Meeting

Why in News?

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 28, 2022, along with in-principle approval for the establishment of two new medical colleges in the state, many other important decisions were taken.

Key Point

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, it was approved to increase the fixed annual limit for the Chief Minister's voluntary grant item from Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore for the financial year 2022-23 and the coming financial years.
• The Council of Ministers decided to increase the MLA Area Development Fund Scheme (Capital) from Rs.1.85 crore to Rs.2.50 crore under MLA Fund and from Rs.15 lakh to Rs.50 lakh in MLA Volunteer Grant Scheme.
• The Council of Ministers has approved 100 MBBS in Budni Tehsil located in Sehore district. In-principle consent was given to set up a medical college with seat admission capacity and 500-bed affiliated hospital, along with setting up a nursing college of 60 seat admission capacity for nursing courses and a paramedical college with 60 seat admission capacity for paramedical courses.
• Similarly, in order to increase the number of seats of undergraduate courses to set up a new medical college in Ujjain, the Council of Ministers gave in-principle consent.
• Council of Ministers approves setting up of Rural Technology Park at Morena.
• On the recommendation of the Kundu Taskforce Committee, the Council of Ministers decided to set up a State Statistical Commission on the lines of the National Statistical Commission. The Kundu Task Force was constituted to submit recommendations for the strengthening of the statistical system in the state. The Commission will be headed by an eminent statistical expert having 20 years of experience in this field. In the Commission, 1 member will be nominated by the State Government and maximum 6 members will be special invitees as subject experts.

PACS will be Digitized in Haryana

Why in News?

• In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on June 28, 2022, it was decided to digitize all Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) of Haryana.

Key Point

• The Chief Secretary informed that under digitization, 307 packs of the state will be fully computerized by August 31, 2022. After being computerized, training of the employees of PACS will also be done for smooth operation of the works.
• The state government has taken this decision only to digitize activities like connecting PACS with the banking system, accounting, loans and advances, so that the work can be done smoothly along with ensuring transparency in the working of PACS.
• Sanjeev Kaushal informed that under the special module prepared under CBS network, work is being done to computerize the PACS on a pilot basis, which is in the final stage. PACS will be integrated with specific modules in the coming days.
• In addition, DPRs are being prepared by technical experts to integrate HARCO BANK and PACS with a single software and network. Completing the next process expeditiously, all the PACS in the state will be fully computerized by the month of November.

MoU for Multi-Skill Center in West Singhbhum

Why in News?

• On June 27, 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between West Singhbhum district administration and Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) for setting up a multi-skill centre.

Key Point

• The agreement was signed by Ananya Mittal (IAS), (Deputy Commissioner, West Singhbhum) and Saurav Roy (Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation).
• The Centre will provide a multi-set of short-term training programmes aimed at capacity building and creating employment generation and entrepreneurship opportunities among the youth of the tribal communities mainly in the region.
• Tata Steel Foundation will take over the routine maintenance of the centre as well as strengthening the initial infrastructure. In addition, the provision of training partners, trainers and equipment will also be supported by the Tata Steel Foundation.
• Keeping in mind the 'Make in India' campaign of the central government, the centre will start with four courses in the supply chain, including warehouse packaging, auto service technician, assistant technician and mobile assembly. These are all three-six month courses.
• Such programmes are being seen as an opportunity to reach out to the youth from the most vulnerable backgrounds with meaningful choices on skill development, which will ensure a sustainable livelihood through income generation.
• Once ready, the center will ensure employment for a large number of youth, who will receive training and ultimately contribute to meeting the demand for skilled workers in industrial areas across the country.

KMEH Becomes National Level Training Institute for Retina Surgery

Why in News?

• Recently Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Ranchi has been recognized by the National Board of Examinations of the country for fellowship studies in Vitro Retinal Surgery.

Key Point

• With this, it has become the only nationally recognized training institute for retinal surgery in eastern India.
• The credit for the initiative of retina surgery in the state also goes to Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital. The retina department of the hospital is run under the supervision of Dr.Vibhuti Kashyap, a double FRCS retinal surgeon trained at AIIMS.
• The hospital has the highest number of blind patients in the state. Surgery of the retina of the eyes is considered to be the most complex surgery of the eyes. This is the longest operation of the eyes.
• Three years ago, the facility of electrophysiology examination of retina and nerves of eyes was also started for the first time at Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital in Jharkhand's Bihar. This test is currently available only at Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital.
• It is like a heart ECG and no dye is used in this test. This test is very safe for patients with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and blood pressure.

Krishna Kunj Will be Inaugurated in August

Why in News?

• On June 28, 2022, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Climate Change Subrata Sahu gave instructions to all the Collectors and Forest Divisional Officers of the state regarding all necessary preparations for the inauguration of 'Krishna Kunj' in the urban bodies in August.

Key Point

• Significantly, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has made an announcement regarding the development of 'Krishna Kunj' by planting trees in the urban areas of the state. In the coming August, 'Krishna Kunj' will be inaugurated simultaneously on the scheduled date (on the day of Krishna Janmashtami).
• In all the urban bodies of Chhattisgarh, 'Krishna Kunj' will be developed by planting life useful trees of cultural importance in at least one acre of land.
• These include Mango, Tamarind, Ganga Tamarind, Jamun, Plum, Ganga Ber, Mulberry, Tendu, Char, Pomegranate, Sycamore Catha, Kadamba, Peepal, Neem, Banyan, Acacia, Palash Guava, Cilantro, Bel and Amla species for planting has been included.