PUNJAB

https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change is one of the key challenges Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture is facing, especially in the northwest plains comprising Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. The major reasons for higher annual temperatures, coupled with highly irregular and intense rainstorms, are industrialisation, deforestation, increased use of fossil fuels and Population–Growth“>Population Growth. The decreased wheat productivity due to abnormally high February-March temperatures in 2022 and untimely rain in 2023 are the most recent examples of climate chaos in the region. The increasing water scarcity presents its own challenges, including competing demands for use in farming, industrial and domestic sectors. Groundwater is the primary source of Irrigation and drinking water for more than 80% of Punjab’s population. The Impact Of Climate Change on the quantity and quality of groundwater is huge. Irregular rainfall distribution in recent years, with frequent dry spells even in otherwise normal rainfall years, has put additional burden on groundwater in the state. The prolonged dry spells during the monsoon have shown an increasing trend during the past decade, thereby leading to increased extraction of groundwater to meet the irrigation demand.

The Centre today said the switchover to the direct benefit transfer (DBT) of the MSP in Punjab has been beyond expectations, crediting the smooth change to state and Central governments and their procurement agencies. Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said of the total DBT of Rs 49,965 crore transferred directly into the accounts of farmers across the country for procurement of wheat this rabi Marketing season, Rs 21,588 has gone to those in Punjab and about Rs 11,784 crore to Haryana.

They (arhtiyas) may be having arrangements withfarmers but what the government is paying to farmers is all going into their accounts.

According to the government data, as of May 9 Punjab procured 128.66 LMT and Haryana 80.76 LMT wheat. So far around 337.95 LMT has been procured, benefitting 34.07 lakh farmers against 28.15 lakh on the same date last year across the country. Haryana and Punjab switched from indirect payment of MSP to DBT after the Centre refused to give them any further concessions.

In a report prepared on the findings of the IHD and shared by Patiala-based forum Economists for Public Interest, Prof Lakhwinder said the increase in the states debt from Rs 1,009 crore in 1980-81 to Rs 3, 05, 361 crore in 2022-23, coupled with slow pace of development, heavy dependence on Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Industrial Sector, lack of public policy and evaluative institutions has impacted the economy.

He said the state, which stood at the first position in year 2000 in terms of per capita income, now ranks 10th. Its 4.7 per cent Growth rate of gross state domestic product (GSDP) during the period 2015-16 and 2022-23 shows that it has been growing at a slow pace. Consequently, the per capita income of Punjab is progressing slower than the national Average, he pointed out.

The states economy has over relied on agriculture. It urgently needs to harness new technologies. Punjab should focus on research and development (R&D) for a green industrial push, he said.

ThePunjabgovernment has promised to spend at least 30% offundsunder all government schemes for thewelfareof Scheduled Caste Population in the state. Chief minister AmarinderSinghmade the announcement on Wednesday, along with other measures for the upliftment of the Dalit communityat a virtual meeting to pay homage to B RAmbedkaron the 130th birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution.

A special allocation of Rs 100 crore is proposed in 2021-22 for modernisation of villages having more than 50% SC population, said the chief minister. This was aimed at providing further impetus to existing grants in the villages having SC population greater than or equal to 50% of the total population, he said.

The Dera Bassi constituency tops the state in terms of the total number of voters, male voters, female voters and third gender voters.

Perusal of the final electoral rolls available at the official website of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, suggests the constituency has the highest number of voters (2,81,864) in the state, while Bholath is at the bottom (1,35,245).

Further, Dera Bassi has the highest number male voters (1,47,998), while Bholath has the least (68,735) in the state.

Dera Bassi also tops with 1,33,840 female voters, while Bholath sits at the bottom with 66,509 voters. Similarly, Dera Bassi has the highest number of third-gender voters (26), while Ghanaur, Raikot, Majitha, Sri Hargobindpur and Bhoa dont have a single voter in the category. The state has a total 2,12,75,066 voters.

Punjab Pavilion, showcasing the states culture, and heritage, and displaying the industrial, agricultural, and handicrafts as well as products of various departments of the State is the main attraction for visitors during the ongoing Indian International Trade Fair (IITF) at New Delhis Pragati Maidan.

The theme of this years IITFs 41^stedition, organized from November 14 to 27, is Vocal for Local, Local to Global, and the Punjab Government has also geared its theme along the same lines.

Based on this Central Government concept, all the states are showcasing their progressive strides in various fields. Foreign countries are also participating in the IITF.

Punjab Pavilion Administrator JS Bhatia and Deputy Administrator Gurpreet Singh revealed that various government departments and institutions, including Markfed, Verka, PSIEC-Invest Punjab, Punjab Tourism, Punjab Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture University (PAU)-Ludhiana, Department of Science, Technology and Environment; and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) have set up their stalls to display their products and to apprise visitors about the initiatives of the .

Punjab’s Chief Minister, Charanjit Singh Channi, recently announced that Punjabi will henceforth be a required subject for all students in the province.

Highlights:

Classes 1 through 10 will be required to study Punjabi. Aside from that, it will be made compulsory in offices.
The promotion of mother tongue has been made mandatory. If a school breaks the rule, it could face a punishment of up to Rs 2 lakh.
Punjabi will be inscribed on top of all boards in Punjab, according to regulations.
On November 11, 2021, CM made this announcement a day after the state legislative assembly passed 15 laws.
Education (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was both linked to the Punjabi language. Punjabi language would become a compulsory subject in schools under this bill. It has fixed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh in the event of a breach.

With exodus of European, American and Japanese companies after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are ample opportunities for the Indian firms to invest or increase their export exposure to Russia. According to the Indian Ambassador to Russia, Pavan Kapoor, Moscow seeks fresh partners to fill the void.

Unending sanctions of European and American nations forced multiple western companies to pull out their businesses from Russia. Many companies operating in diverse sectors closed their operations in Russia. Considering this pull-out, there is an opportunity for the Indian companies to fill the void left by western companies.

After exporting crude oil at a highly competitive price, Russia has now started to become the preferred destination for Indian companies. In 2021-22, India’s exports to Russia stood at $3.25 billion while imports were at $9.87 billion. While during the period April-August this year, the total bilateral trade was $18 billion. Out of the total, imports were $17 billion and exports from India were $1 billion. The huge is mainly on account of import of oil from Russia.

For Punjab-based companies, there are opportunities in Food Processing sector mainly fruit and vegetable concentrates, fruit additives, automobile and auto components, Cotton yarn, jute & textiles, packaging and hand tools etc.