• 31 Dec 2022

GIS 2023: UPSIDA Receives Investment Proposals Worth Rs 1 lakh Crore, MoUs worth Rs 83,000 Crore Signed

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) CEO Mayur Maheshwari said that UPSIDA has received proposals worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore from investors for setting up industrial units. Of these, MoUs worth Rs 83,000 crore have also been signed.

Key Points

• MoUs for the projects will be finalised at Global Investors’ Summit (GIS) proposed to be hosted in the state capital from February 10 to 12.
• CEO Mayur Maheshwari said that the state government is moving towards making Uttar Pradesh a $ 10 trillion economy. In order to achieve the target, nine teams of senior officials of UPSIDA were formed and in the first phase, meetings were held with investors and entrepreneurs in 22 districts. During this time MoUs were signed with investors.
• These include food processing, textiles, automobiles, private industrial parks, warehousing, paper industry, medical sector, biofuels, toy products, data centers, IT and electronics sectors. Before the Global Investors Summit, teams will be formed and investment seminars will also be held in other districts.
• The MoUs signed by UPSIDA will provide employment to lakhs of people. Among the major MoUs signed, 10,000 people will get employment by setting up an industrial park in Ghaziabad with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore by the Grapeworkers Network. Mobility Infrastructure Group will invest Rs 8,000 crore on setting up a logistics and warehouse park in Gautam Buddh Nagar. This will provide jobs to 1000 people. Mega Leather Cluster Development (UP) Limited in Kanpur will set up a leather industry with an investment of Rs 6000 crore. This is expected to provide employment to two lakh people.
• In Pratapgarh, 50,000 people are expected to get employment by setting up an industrial park with an investment of Rs 9000 crore by Dharitri Solutions, SMRM Innovative Ventures Pvt. Ltd. In Sonbhadra, City Gold Industrial Limited will provide employment to one thousand people through a cement plant with an investment of Rs 3000 crore, while in Lucknow, an investment of Rs 2000 crore by Welspun and Logistics Parks Pvt. Ltd. will provide employment to a large number of people.
• High Flow Industries will invest Rs 3,000 crore each in Agra and Ayodhya, Rs 14,000 crore in Ghaziabad, Rs 1,200 crore in Gorakhpur, Rs 7,500 crore in Kanpur, Rs 3,500 crore in Lucknow, Rs 300 crore in Aligarh, Rs 35,000 crore in Prayagraj, Rs 9,000 crore in Surajpur, Rs 2,000 crore in Varanasi and more than 5 lakh jobs in all districts.
• UPSIDA has prepared a land bank of more than 15 thousand acres to provide land to investors. Indian Corporation has proposed an investment of Rs 2000 crore in Varanasi for setting up logistics and warehouses.
• There have been many more investments in various sectors, such as more than Rs 23,000 crore in renewable energy sector, Rs 21,000 crore in private industrial park sector, about Rs 10,000 crore in logistics and warehousing, Rs 6000 crore in leather and shoe industry, about Rs 4000 crore in non-metallic and mineral products sector and about Rs 850 crore in biofuel sector.
• The state government has increased the investment target from Rs 10 lakh crore to Rs 17 lakh crore through the Global Investors Summit. For this, the old investment targets of all departments have also been revised. UPSIDA's investment target has also been increased from Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore. UPSIDA has already received investment proposals worth Rs 80,000 crore even before the target is revised.

46th Foundation Day of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, the 46^th Foundation Day celebrations of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan were held. Senior litterateur Dr. Ram Hard Singh, story writer Dr. Sudhakar Adeeb and Director of the institute RP Singh felicitated a total of 70 litterateurs of all categories.

Key Points

• Anand Kumar Singh of Bhopal was given the 'Tulsi Award' for the book 'Atharva, Main Wahi Van Hoon', an epic genre written with 26 years of continuous writing. Shankar Singh was awarded the Shridhar Pathak Award for his collection of poems 'Ram Dhara Par Punah Padharo'. Ghaziabad-based writer Jaivardhan JP received the Bharatendu Harishchand nominated award for his work 'Kalpurush Krantikari Veer Savarkar'.
• Noida-based litterateur Jayshree Purwar won the agnostic award for her book 'Sapnon Ka Shehar of Dreams San Francisco' in the travelogue genre. Varanasi-based writer Shyam Bihari Shyamal was awarded the Premchand Award for the book 'Kantha' in the novel genre.
• Ghaziabad-based writer Shraddha Pandey was awarded the Sur Prize for her book 'Maa Kah Ek Kahani' in the children's literature genre. Former UP DGP and BJP MP Brij Lal, author of history book 'Siasat Ka Sabak', received acharya Narendra Dev award.
• Lucknow-based journalist Harimohan Bajpai 'Madhav' was awarded the Dharamveer Bharti Sarjana Award for his book 'Chronology in Covid Toons'. Ramji Bhai from Lucknow received the Yashpal Award for the book 'Anubhav Ke Bol' of the story collection genre. It has a collection of 51 stories.

Khemraj Committee Submits Final Report to CM

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, the Khemraj Committee, constituted by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to study and analyze the demands of various employee organizations, submitted its final report.

Key Points

• The state government will examine the report submitted by the committee and take appropriate action keeping in mind the interests of the employees. The Committee had earlier submitted its interim report on 2nd February, 2022, which has been implemented.
• It is noteworthy that in the budget for the year 2021-22, the Chief Minister had announced the formation of a high-level committee to study and analyze the demands of various employees and officers organizations. In the implementation of the said budget announcement, the Employees' Pay Discrepancy Testing Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Khemraj Chaudhary (retired IAS).

Minister Ashok Chandna receives 'Leader of Decade' award from Women Economic Forum

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, Ashok Chandna, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs and Public Relations, Rajasthan, was awarded the 'Leader of Decade' honor at a program organized by the global organization 'Women Economic Forum' in New Delhi.

Key Points

• Ashok Chandana has been given this honor by the organization working for the upliftment and empowerment of women globally for the programs being run by the Government of Rajasthan for the upliftment and empowerment of girls and women under his leadership.
• Addressing the session 'Power of Networking: Towards a More Just and Equitable World' on the second day of the three-day 'Annual WEF-2022, Bridge the Gap: Agenda for G-20' event held at Hotel JW Marriott in New Delhi, Minister Ashok Chandna said that ensuring women's participation in all spheres is essential for the just and inclusive development of the country and the world.
• Chandana said that in the modern era, all enlightened people, institutions and governments need to learn from each other, so that the stage of development and prosperity can be achieved soon. He said that the role of networking in this era of technology is very powerful. Local institutions are able to achieve development by networking with global institutions.
• Chandana said that many important programs are being run by the Rajasthan government for girl education, safety and participation in all areas of the society. He said that recently the rural Olympic Games were organized by the state government, in which 30 lakh people from all over Rajasthan participated. The participation of women and girls in these Rural Olympic Games was also encouraging.

'Suraj Colonies' To Be Built on Land Freed From Encroachment

Why in News?

• According to information received from the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department on December 30, 2022, 'Suraj Colonies' will be set up for poor housingless families on encroached government land free from land mafia. It has also started from Bhopal's Nilbar area.

Key Points

• According to the information, on the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the administration has taken strict action in all the districts and in the year 2022, more than 23 thousand acres of encroached government land worth more than Rs 15 thousand crore has been freed from land mafia. Now 'Suraj Colonies' will be set up on this land for the poor.
• Due to the strong will of the government, precious land worth crores of rupees has not only been freed from the land mafia, but it has also given relief to the public from the terror of the land mafia.
• On December 18, Chief Minister Chouhan had laid the foundation stone for the construction of Suraj Colony on 40 acres of land at Village Kalkheda in Nilbar area to provide housing facilities to the homeless poor people on land freed from land mafia.

Consultative Committee Constituted Under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh constituted a Consultative Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to formulate, guide and advise necessary policy at the administrative level for the activity and supervision of the 'State Computer Security Incident Response Team' constituted under the Department of Science and Technology, information technology security aspects, decision-making of related subjects in sensitive/ special emergencies.

Key Points

• This committee will be of a permanent nature. The committee consists of Secretary Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, National Cyber Security Coordinator or their representative, Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary Home, Finance, Principal Secretary/Secretary Science and Technology, Director General CERT-in Managing Director Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development, Head of Department (Computer Science), Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Representatives of NCIIPPC, State Information Officer-NIC, Director General/Additional Director General of Police, State Cyber Police. Any other expert will be a member as decided by the Committee. The director of CSIRT will be the Member Secretary.
• The committee will monitor the activities of the 'State Computer Security Incident Response Team', to monitor its functions, to provide necessary policy-making, guidance and advice at the administrative level.

Cabinet Approves Implementation of 'Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana' From FY 2023-24

Why in News?

• On December 30, 2022, the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel approved the implementation of a new scheme 'Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana' from the financial year 2023-24 with the aim of increasing the income of farmers.

Key Points

• Farmers or institutions interested in participating in the 'Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana' can contact the office of the Forest Range Officer of their area and give information about the plants required for planting in the coming year with a consent letter.
• It is worth mentioning that under this scheme, one lakh 80 thousand acres of commercial tree species (Clonal Nilgiri, Tissue Culture Bamboo, Tissue Culture Teak, Milia Dubia and other economically beneficial species) will be planted in the private land of farmers at the rate of 36 thousand acres per year.
• All interested land owners, government, semi-government and government autonomous institutions, private educational institutions, private trusts, non-governmental institutions, panchayats and land contract holders, who want to plant in their land, will be the beneficiaries of this scheme.
• Under 'Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana', eligible beneficiaries will be given 100 percent financial grant for planting saplings on land up to 5 acres (maximum 5000 plants) and 50 percent for planting on more than 5 acres of land.
• Participation of partner entity or private companies is proposed in the scheme. They have also proposed to buy back the trees of the beneficiaries at the support price fixed by the government with financial participation. With the participation of associate organizations or private companies, farmers will get a assured market for their produce and the financial burden on the government will also be reduced. Tissue culture teak, tissue culture bamboo and milia doodiya trees will be purchased by the government at the fixed support price after maturity.
• Under this scheme in the state, after the maturity of 15 crore saplings planted in one lakh 80 thousand acres in a total of five years, the beneficiaries are likely to get an income of about Rs 5000 crore.
• About 30 thousand farmers will benefit every year from the implementation of 'Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana'. With the implementation of this scheme, the beneficiaries will get income from 15 to 50 thousand rupees per acre per year.
• The implementation of the scheme will ensure availability of raw materials for wood-based industries such as paper mill, plywood, furniture, veneer, etc. The establishment of new industries will increase the employment opportunities of the local residents and the government will get more revenue through various taxes.

Important Decisions Taken in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers

Why in News?

• In a meeting of the state council of ministers chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the decision to give the benefit of the old pension scheme was taken despite the central government's ban on the return of NPS amount to the officers and employees of the state.

Key Points

• In the cabinet meeting, it was decided to give the benefit of the old pension scheme even after the central government's ban on the return of NPS amount to state officers and employees.
  • Under this, government servants will be considered as members of Chhattisgarh General Provident Fund from April 1, 2022 and the employee contribution deposited in the NPS account from the date appointed on or after November 1, 2004, to March 31, 2022, and the dividend earned on it will be payable to the government employee under the NPS rules.
  • Employees will be eligible for the old pension only after depositing the contribution of the state government and the dividend earned on it. For this, government servants will have to give the option of remaining undone under NPS or getting the benefit of the old pension scheme in the notarized affidavit. This choice will be final and irreversible.
  • If a government servant takes the option of the old pension scheme, then the contribution deposited by the government in the NPS account from November 1, 2004 to March 31, 2022 and the dividend received on it will have to be deposited in the government account.
  • Government servants of the state appointed on and after April 1, 2022 will compulsorily be members of the old pension scheme.
• In the cabinet meeting, it was decided to start a special scheme for the repair of school buildings. A total of Rs 780 crore will be spent on the repair of schools under this scheme.
• Taking an important decision to improve the environment and increase the income of farmers through commercial plantation, it was decided to start Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana in the state.
• Discussions were held regarding the implementation of the Millets Mission program in the state and initiatives will be taken jointly by agriculture, forest, cooperative, panchayat and rural development, school education, Scheduled Caste and Tribe development, food, women and child development, village industries, culture, commerce and industry, tourism, public relations, home and prisons, commercial taxes and health and family welfare departments to promote millet production and its use in the state.
• The draft Chhattisgarh Regularisation of Unauthorised Development (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was approved.
• The draft Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2022 was approved.
• It was decided to constitute District Level Agglomeration and District Level Committees in 5 new districts to monitor the implementation of Central State Sponsored Schemes related to inter-departmental and inter-state schemes at cluster level.
• Amendment draft in Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1991 was approved for collection of lifetime tax from ambulance category vehicles.
• In order to increase the temporary registration tax on vehicles, the draft amendment to the Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1991 and Rules 1991 was approved.
• It was decided to distribute fortified rice to state scheme ration card holders (except APL) in all districts of the state. An amount of Rs 26.42 crore will be spent on this.
• It was decided to distribute free food grains in antyodaya and priority ration cards issued under the Chhattisgarh Food and Nutrition Security Act, 2012, similar to the distribution of free food grains in ration cards issued under the National Food Security Act, 2013 from January 2023 to December 2023.
• The draft amendment to the Chhattisgarh Industrial Land and Management Rules 2015 was approved.
• A report of the judicial inquiry into the incident of the death of Hon'ble MLA Bhima Mandavi of Dantewada constituency no. 88 was presented.

Fortified Rice Will be Distributed in All Districts of the State

Why in News?

• In a meeting of the State Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on December 30, 2022, an important decision was taken to overcome the situation of malnutrition and anemia among women and children in Chhattisgarh that now fortified rice will be distributed in all the districts of the state.

Key Points

• Fortified rice will be distributed to ration card holders through fair price shops from April 2023. Antyodaya, single destitute disabled category ration card holders will get fortified rice in place of normal rice currently being given.
• It is worth mentioning that under universal PDS, fortified rice distribution has been started in Kondagaon district from November 2020 to ensure food security as well as nutritional security and to overcome anemia and other nutrient deficiencies.
• At present, fortified rice is being distributed in all districts of the state under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Supplementary Nutrition Scheme. Apart from this, fortified rice is also being distributed in 10 aspirational districts of the state (Korba, Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Bastar, Kondagaon, Sukma) and 2 Highbirden districts (Kabirdham and Raigarh) under the Public Distribution System.
• It is noteworthy that fortified rice is nutritious and healthy. It is rich in iron, folic acid, vitamin B-12. Nutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamin B-12 present in it do not allow blood loss in adults and children and help in blood formation and proper functioning of the nervous system.
• Regarding the benefits of fortified rice, ration card holders of the district are being made aware from time to time about the methods and use of fortified rice through banners, posters etc. in Anganwadi workers, mitanin and fair price shops.

Uttarakhand Sets New Record in Chardham and Kanwar Yatra

Why in News?

• According to information received from the media on December 30, 2022, the year 2022 proved to be good for Uttarakhand in the field of pilgrimage and tourism. Chardham and Kanwar Yatras, which resumed after Corona, were at their peak. Two new records were also set.

Key Points

• According to the information, the Kanwar Mela took place two years after the Corona period and 3 crore 82 lakh devotees took a dip in the Ganges. Haridwar's business received a booster dose from the record rush of devotees. The Chardham Yatra also put Haridwar's hotel and travelers business on track.
• The entire economy of Haridwar is dependent on devotees. During the Corona period, the salaries of the employees of businessmen in Haridwar were forced to pay electricity and water bills and school fees of children. The havoc of Corona subsided, but the number of devotees did not increase due to the restrictions, but the Kanwar Mela held from July 14 to July 27 gave a booster dose to the haridwar business.
• Over 3.82 crore devotees from several states of north India took a dip in the River Ganga and left for their destinations carrying Ganga water. No untoward incident took place at the fair even after the historic crowd. The police and the fair administration conducted the fair well.
• Two years after the Corona period, the Chardham Yatra, which went on without restrictions, has set a new record this year. For the first time, more than 46 lakh pilgrims visited the four shrines. The CharDham Yatra came to an end this year with the closure of the portals of Badrinath Dham on November 19.
• Significantly, this time 17 lakh 60 thousand 646 devotees reached Badrinath Dham. At the same time, a record number of pilgrims reached Gangotri Dham. This time 624451 pilgrims reached the dham, while 485635 pilgrims reached yamunotri dham for darshan. This year, a record number of more than 15 lakh pilgrims have reached Kedarnath Yatra, while the yatra has earned a turnover of Rs 211 crore.
• As many as 281 pilgrims also died due to various reasons during the Chardham Yatra amid claims by the government of better healthcare facilities. During the yatra period, the health department had started health screening at nine places on the yatra routes.