• 30 Aug 2024

Bihar Requests Funds Under PMAY-G

Why in News?

Recently, The Rural Development Department (RDD) of Bihar has sent a new request to the Ministry of rural development to approve Rs. 13.5 lakh additional housing units for homeless families under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

Key Points

• The RDD has constructed 36.64 lakh dwelling units out of the total 37 lakh units that were sanctioned under the PMAY-G during the period from 2016-17 to 2023-24.
• Each beneficiary under PMAY-G gets Rs 1.30 lakh for a dwelling unit, along with labour cost as per rates under rural employment guarantee scheme Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G)

• Launch:
  • To achieve the objective of “Housing for All” by 2022, the erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was restructured to Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) from 1st April 2016, as a centrally sponsored scheme.
  • However, the government missed this target and in August 2022 extended the deadline for ensuring “Housing for All” to December 2024 .
• Ministry Involved:
  • Ministry of Rural Development.
• Status:
  • States/UTs have sanctioned 2.85 crore houses to the beneficiaries and 2.22 crore houses have been completed till March 2023.
• Aim:
  • To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
  • To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in the construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by assisting in the form of a full grant.
• Beneficiaries:
  • People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.
• Selection of Beneficiaries:
  • Through a three-stage validation such as Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.
• Cost Sharing:
  • The Centre and states share expenses in 60:40 ratio in case of plain areas, and in 90:10 ratio for northeastern states, two Himalayan states and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
    • The Centre bears 100% cost in case of other Union Territories, including the UT of Ladakh.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

• About:
• MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Rural development.
• It provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
  • Active workers: 14.32 Crore (2023-24)
• Major Features:
  • The cornerstone of MGNREGA's design is its legal guarantee, ensuring that any rural adult can request work and must receive it within 15 days.
    • If this commitment is not met, an "unemployment allowance" must be provided.
  • It requires that priority shall be given to women in such a way that at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work.
  • Section 17 of the MGNREGA has mandated Social audit of all Works executed under the MGNREGA.
• Implementation Agency:
  • The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.

Bihar’s First Sports Academy and University

Why in News?

Recently, On the occasion of National Sports Day Bihar chief minister inaugurated the state’s first Sports Academy and Bihar Sports University which is a part of the International Sports Complex in Rajgir.

Key Points

• The International Sports Complex will be a venue for training in 24 sports disciplines simultaneously.
  • The players will be provided all the facilities including training, accommodation and medical facilities, on the same campus.
  • The complex includes a main cricket stadium, along with eight smaller stadiums, a world-class sports library and training centres for various sports.
  • The main stadium will have a seating capacity of about 50,000 spectators, while the smaller stadiums will have a seating arrangement for 10,000 spectators.
    • It includes facilities for athletics, football, hockey, volleyball, kabaddi, and many other sports.
• According to the sources, Rajgir would be hosting the six-nation’s Asian Women Hockey Championship in November.
• The state government approved the establishment of Bihar Sports University in July 2021.
  • The primary objectives of this university are to promote sports education in the domains of physical education, sports science, sports technology, sports management, and sports training within the state of Bihar.
  • The university is envisioned to serve as a high-level research and training center for sports.

National Sports Day

• About:
  • The day was first designated and celebrated in 2012 as India’s National Sports Day.
  • The nation celebrates the day honouring our sports stars.
  • The president gives away sports awards such as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Dhyan Chand Awards on this occasion.
• Significance:
  • The primary motto of National Sports Day is to promote awareness about the significance of sports and being physically active in day-to-day life.
  • The Government of India organises various programs, events, seminars etc to raise awareness about the significance of National Sports Day.

Jharkhand Cabinet Waives Power Dues

Why in News?

Recently, The Jharkhand government has decided to waive Rs 3,584 crore in power dues for around 39.44 lakh consumers benefiting from the 200-unit free electricity scheme.

Key Points

• The decision aims to alleviate the financial pressures on domestic consumers registered under the Mukhyamantri Urja Khushali Yojana.
• Other decisions that were approved by the state government are:
  • Ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh and a government job for the families of Agniveer soldiers from Jharkhand who die during duty or military operations.
    • Ex-gratia payment is the money which is paid due to moral obligation and not due to legal obligation.
  • Extending the remuneration period for anganwadi poshan sakhis and cooks from 10 to 12 months.
    • The re-appointment of 10,388 poshan sakhis in six districts - Dhanbad, Dumka, Giridih, Chatra, Koderma, and Godda.

Agnipath Scheme

• The term "Agniveer" translates to "Fire-Warriors" and is a new military rank.
• It is a scheme of recruiting army personnel below officer ranks such as soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers to the Indian Armed Forces.
• They are recruited for a period of 4 years, after which, upto 25% of these recruits (called Agniveers), can join the services on a permanent commission (another 15 years), subject to merit and organisational requirements.
• At present, all sailors, airmen, and soldiers, except the technical cadre of the medical branch, are recruited to the services under this scheme.

No Snow on Om Parvat

Why in News?

Recently, For the first time in recorded history, snow has vanished from Om Parvat in Uttarakhand, sparking profound concerns among environmentalists.

Key Points

• Experts have attributed this unprecedented event primarily to the deficient rainfall and sporadic snowfall observed in the upper Himalayan region over the past five years.
• The significant decline in precipitation has directly contributed to the diminishing snow cover on Om Parvat. Moreover, the escalation of vehicular pollution and the effects of global warming have further aggravated the situation.
  • The implications of this event has potential repercussions for the region's tourism industry.
• The disappearance of snow from Om Parvat serves as a stark indicator of the broader ramifications of climate change.
  • The Himalayan region, characterized by its fragile ecosystem, is especially susceptible to alterations in temperature and precipitation patterns.
  • The rise in global temperatures has accelerated glacier melt and diminished snowfall, impacting the region's natural beauty and the water resources.
• Efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region must encompass measures such as reducing vehicular emissions, managing forest fires, and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
  • Assessing the carrying capacity of ecologically sensitive areas and enforcing stringent regulations on vehicular activity can aid in preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Himalayas.

Om Parvat

• It is located in the Vyas Valley of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand at an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet.
• It is renowned for its snow-capped peak that naturally forms a pattern resembling the Hindu symbol “Om.”
  • This unique feature has made it a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims alike.

New Rail Projects

Why in News?

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister approved the three new rail projects with a total estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore.

Key Points

• According to the Prime Minister, the three new railways related projects approved by the Cabinet will greatly benefit Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
• According to the railway ministry, these projects will improve logistical efficiency, increase line capacity, and enhance transportation networks, resulting in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth.
  • The projects are result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which have been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for movement of people, goods and services.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)

• Chaired by the Prime Minister, CCEA lays down the priorities for public sector investment and considers specific proposals for investment of not less than specific levels as revised from time to time.
• Its responsibilities includes setting priorities for public sector investment, Considering investment proposals, Reviewing economic trends, Developing an economic policy framework, and Directing and coordinating economic activities and policies

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity

• It is a Made in India initiative, a transformative ‘whole-of-government’ approach for integrated planning of multimodal infrastructure connectivity to economic nodes and social infrastructure, thereby improving logistics efficiency.
  • PM Gati Shakti principles bring socio-economic area-based development as part of regional connectivity.
  • PM GatiShakti was launched in October 2021.
• The Gati Shakti scheme subsumed Rs. 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline launched in 2019.
• PM Gatishakti National Master Plan is a Geographic Information System (GIS) data-based digital platform with over 1400 data layers and 50+ tools.
  • It provides visual representation of trunk and utility infrastructure, land use, existing structures, soil quality, habitation, tourism sites, forest sensitive areas etc.
• The initiative is also being implemented to enhance connectivity with regional partners as well. Some of the suitable examples are:
  • The Indo-Nepal Haldia Access Controlled Corridor project (eastern Indian states and Nepal)
  • Regional Waterways Grid (RWG) project for multimodal connectivity to growth centres and border points.