Current Affairs Exam

Telangana Ku Haritha Haram, biggest plantation drive in country

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

TheTelanganagovernments flagship programmeTelangana Ku Haritha Haram(THH), taken up to enhance the green cover in the state is the biggest plantation drive in the country and third in the world after China and Brazil. After launching theTHH, had planted 239 crore saplings in the past six years, which is nine crore more than the target 230 crore.

Chief ministerK Chandrasekhar Raostarted THH in July, 2015 with an intention to improve the forest coverage to 33% from the 24% in 2014. The National Forest Policy of India, 1988 also envisages 33% of forest cover. There is a gap of about 9% in the forest cover in the state.

In the past six years, the forest department and other departments have planted over 160 crore saplings outside the forest areas and another 80 crore with the forest areas after 7th THH programme conducted this year. This include direct plantation and rejuvenation of degraded forest.

Andhra Pradesh ranks 2nd in sexual harassment at work

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Andhra Pradeshrankssecondin India after Himachal Pradesh when it comes tosexual harassmentinstances at workplace, according to Crime in India 2020 report released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The Crime in India 2019 document had ranked Andhra Pradesh eighth in the country for workplace sexual harassment with 22 cases.

Overall, there has been a 13% increase in sexual harassment cases (section 354 of IPC) in 2020 compared to 2019.

According to cops, the increase inworkplace harassmentcases is in a way, a healthy sign for the state as it indicates more Women are coming forward in exposing their ordeals.

Not surprisingly, the major chunk (around 38%) of crimes against women include 498A of IPC (cruelty by husband or his relatives). Contrary to the popular belief that COVID-induced lockdown might have increased domestic violence,APsaw a 16% dip in 498A cases in 2020

Goa government hopes to store solar power for use in peak hours

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

In a bid to address the fluctuation inpowersupply duringpeakload periods, the is exploring RENEWABLE ENERGY storage technology, which will release power generated viasolarplants back into the states power gridduringpeak hours. The state electricity department is working with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to see if such a project can augment power supply particularly for the industries, said power minister Nilesh Cabral.

GCCI, which organised the virtual meeting, requested Cabral to focus on adequate, reliable, affordable and consistent power supply in the state.

The tourism sector is heavily dependant on quality power for operation, production, utilities and recreational facilities. Interruptions, fluctuations and power drops create a total disruption in this sector. Thus hoteliers are forced to depend on diesel Generator sets, which are expensive to run.

Maharashtra Gene Bank to help document, conserve biodiversity through local knowledge

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

The will set up aMaharashtra Gene Bank(MGB) to document native Resources, conserve them, and add value to thecommunitythat is conserving this rich diversity in the state, launch Biodiversity conservation as a peoples movement and engage folk ecologists in a scientific enterprise.

Started in 2014, the MGB project demonstrates the power of community-led conservation activities. For these to sustain and continue in mission mode, the state will now include these projects for funding. This will benefit local communities using traditional and scientificknowledgefor Sustainable Development.

Funded by Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission, it is a collaborative work of Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Pune; National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa; National Centre for Cell Science (NCSS), Pune; Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri. It also saw participation of 13 NGOs, of which two (BAIF and CEE) are pan-India organizations.

Livelihood strengthening efforts happened in the course of this project via activities related to fodder management. About 4,000 MT of palatable grass is produced in this area and this fodder availability is supporting about 3,000 animal heads, which belong to about 1,000 Livestock-keeping families.

The tourists in Haryana will soon be able to stay with a local family to experience the local culture and relish the State’s authentic cuisines. For, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government in the State has chalked out a Home Stay Scheme 2021, allowing the house owners to provide home stays to tourists.

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

The scheme is aimed at giving an impetus to tourism in the state after the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is scheduled to launch the Home Stay Scheme 2021 at Tikkar Taal, Panchkula on September 29.

The scheme lays down the eligibility criteria for home stays, incentives for them, registration procedure, inspection and Police verification, Marketing and promotion, responsibility of proprietor among other parameters.

Under the scheme, any house located within the limit of any type of municipal body is not eligible for registration and consequential subsidy under the scheme. Existing OYO or Airbnb, or B&B proprietors will also be not eligible.

The Department of Tourism will publish on its website the list of all approved home stay units. Brochures, leaflets, amongst other publicity materials will also be developed and disseminated at suitable public places in this regard.

As per the scheme, any proprietor can register a maximum four fully owned accommodation rooms in the scheme. All rooms must be in the same house and all registered rooms should be available for letting out. At least one of the proprietors/owner must be physically staying in the same house.

Forum wants Punjab Government to buy private thermal plants, experts differ

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

The newly formed Power Sector Reforms Forum has cautioned the against cancellation of power purchase agreements saying that such a step might have an adverse effect on consumers.

The forum, comprising retired power engineers of the Pspcl, said the government should instead buy private Plants. However, power experts believe that buying the private thermal plants will not solve the issue as the underutilisation of power is the root cause of the losses.

The forum leaders also opposed the privatisation of the distribution, proposed in the new electricity act which shall, on one hand, make electricity costlier and also deteriorate the quality of supply to the rural areas.

Himachal Pradesh becomes first state in India to begin organised cultivation of true dalchini

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Realizing that people in India have been consuming inferior quality cinnamon (dalchini) having serious ill effects on Health, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) -Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) has, for the first time, begun organized cultivation of true variety of cinnamon plant in the country.

The cinnamon derived from Cinnamomum cassia (commonly sold in the market ) was used in large quantities while making cakes or pies . Even many people consume large quantities of dalchini for medicinal purposes which indirectly causes much harm than doing any good.

India imports 45,318 tonnes (worth Rs. 909 crores) of cinnamon annually from China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal. Of the 45,318 tonnes of imports, astonishingly, India imports 37,166 tonnes of Cinnamomum cassia (species banned in several countries) from Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

With the cultivation of Cinnamomum verum , HP has become the first state of India to have organized cultivation of cinnamon .

The Uttarakhand government has awarded All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh with Ayushman Samman for its valuable contribution in treating patients under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The hospital has so far treated 51,120 patients free of cost under the scheme. Since the inception of the scheme, 10,900 Ayushman cards have been made in AIIMS.

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

The hospital administration claims that apart from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, patients of many states have been treated in the hospital under the scheme.

New sugarcane variety draws 42,000 farmers to sweet crop in 5 years

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

At least 42,000 farmers in Muzaffarnagar switched to sugarcane farming in the last five years after the introduction of a new crop variety with a better yield. With the new entrants, the cultivation area of the crop and sugarcane production has also seen a considerable jump.

Now, two lakh farmers are growing cane in comparison to 1.6 lakh in 2015, he said.
According to officials, in the crushing year 2016-17, the recorded sugarcane growing area stood at 1,26,872 hectare which has now reached 1,68,015 hectare in 2021-22.
The cultivation area of sugarcane in the district has increased by 42,596 hectares during the last five crushing years.

As many as eight sugar mills in the district have started preparation for crushing for the 2021-22 season.

The sugarcane farmers had been paid Rs 2,200 crore in 2015-16 by these mills. Now, the last payment was 3,200 crore in 2020-21. The payment of the sugarcane has increased Rs 1,000 crore in five years, the cane officer said.

Cabinet nod to new state mining & exploration corporation

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

The state cabinet approved a host of proposals that are aimed at boosting the industrial Climate of Jharkhand.

Among the notable decisions the cabinet made was giving its nod to the state mining departments proposal to constitute the states own mining and exploration corporation. The corporation will explore mineral reserves within the states geographical boundaries and also participate in the e-auctioning of various mineral blocks.

The 11-member ministerial council also gave its nod to a proposal to grant 100% subsidy on electricity duties to the new and existing captive power Plants in the state for five years in a bid to attract big-ticket projects under the newJharkhand Industrial and Promotion Policy,2021.