Current Affairs Exam

Uttar Pradesh launches week-long ‘One Tap-One Tree scheme

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Uttar PradeshJal Shakti ministerSwatantra Dev Singhstarted the One tap-One Tree scheme by planting a sapling at his official residence in Lucknow.

The scheme will continue till July 7. The Namani Gange and Rural Water Supply department will provide a free sapling to those getting a new tap connection.

The minister gave saplings as gifts to Women members of the Jal Samitis and others who got a new tap connection to mark the start of one-tap-one-tree campaign.

Between July 1 and July 7, over 5 lakh saplings will be distributed under the campaign. The inaugural event was planned for Udaypur village in Mohanlalganj but due to heavy rains the same was conducted at the residence of the minister.

Jkhand to plant 2.5cr saplings this monsoon

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Jharkhand will plant 2.5 crore saplings thismonsoonseason besides other measures to enhance forest quality and also to restore Ecosystems and bring about a qualitative change in , a top forest official said on Sunday.
Jharkhand boasts 23,721 square kilometre of forest cover which is 29.76 per cent of its total geographical area, higher than the 21.71 per cent of forest cover pan India.

The PCCF said it is heartening to see that there is a gradual increase in the forest cover in the state, and as per recent data, there has been an increase of 110 square km of forest area in the state.

Cabinet approves subsidy for dairy units

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

A memorandum of understanding will be signed with the central government for the implementation of the scheme for modernisation and reforms through technology (SMART) in PDS in the state with a Software to be developed and installed.

The cabinet also cleared the release of Rs757.63 crore in three instalments to Bihar State Power Holding Company for the payment of unfunded terminal benefits to former employees and officers of Bihar State Electricity Board up to October 31, 2012.

As to the animal and Resources department, the cabinet approved the payment of subsidy to the tune of Rs 37.05 crore for the promotion of Dairy units using indigenous/local variety of cows and calf in the current financial year.

Beneficiaries would be farmers, cattle rearers and unemployed youths (male and female). The subsidy payable to the Scheduled Caste, scheduled tribe and extremely backward caste beneficiaries using two and four cows and calf will be 75%, while it will be 50% for the general category.

Similarly, subsidy payable to persons of all categories for establishing dairy units using 15-20 cows is 40%. A Matsya Vikas Bhavan would be constructed at a cost of Rs54.35 crore on the campus of fishery research centre at Mithapur (Patna).

Cracking down on commercial transport vehicles that flout traffic norms on highways, the Chhattisgarh government is soon launching a hi-tech e-challan system that utilizes ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. These cameras will help identify vehicles that are unfit, running without paid taxes, and lacking insurance coverage.

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

This foolproof and transparent system will serve as an alternative to deploying a large number of personnel on highways for vehicle inspections.

ANPR, or automatic number plate recognition, is an e-detection system that has been installed at nine locations on state highways. This system enables the traffic and transport department to automatically issue e-challans to unfit vehicles and those with outstanding taxes when they pass under the ANPR cameras installed on the roads.

The system will become operational after being formally inaugurated by chief ministerBhupesh Baghel, who expressed concern over the increasing number of accidents caused by various factors. The ANPR system will now play a crucial role in addressing these issues.

According to the Motor Vehicle Act, it is mandatory for every vehicle to have valid documents such as tax pass, registration certificate, fitness certificate, permit (for transport vehicles), Insurance, andpollutionunder control certificate (PUCC). Furthermore, a valid driving license is mandatory for all vehicle drivers. However, personal vehicles do not require fitness certificates or permits.

PPP shot in the arm for better govt healthcare facilities in tier 2 & 3 cities

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

After distributing 3.56 crore Ayushman Bharat Insurance cards via a text message, MP Health department top official said healthcare facilities in Tier II and Tier III cities will be scaled up and invited the private healthcare sector to pitch in.

PPP-mode is on offer for private healthcare providers to provide their expertise in government hospitals, said MP health commissioner, Dr Sudam Khade. He was speaking at the Association of Healthcare Providers-MP and MP Nursing homes association joint conclave on meeting challenges of health care in the 21st century. It had Indias leading experts on quality, sustainability, patient safety, AI and ML in medicine and consumer laws, said AHPI-MP advisor, DrAnoopHajela.
According to government estimates, around 80% of residents in MP continue to rely on medical care through government run hospitals. Diagnostics and pathology Services along with telemedicine have already been outsourced by the health department. Now there is a more direct avenue being explored. A more direct PARTNERSHIP with private healthcare providers.

Ayushman Bharat scheme has opened up increased dependency on private sector hospitals. Also, now there is a shift of focus for the health department. Tier II and III cities will be given priority over the likes of Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior andJabalpurwhere health is assumed to be better off. Government opened up its interface, promising data analysis and AI in the future to determine and improve disease surveillance. For the private sector, red tape and delay in Ayushman payments are pitfalls to navigate.

14,000 Gujarat citizens fell prey to card frauds in a year

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Even as credit or debit card credentials leak over the dark web, many citizens dont realize that online frauds can be stopped with a little cyber hygiene.

Since January 2020, all banks, in keeping with the RBI guidelines, have allowed card holders to enable and disable cards for online use on international and domestic websites and Point of Sale (PoS) machines and even modify their transaction limits by simply moving a toggle tab on their bank app or website. Since 2022, fraudulent credit and debit card transactions have surged inGujarat.

The Gujarat CID Crime data for the last one year revealed that 14,725 citizens have lost their or credit to these frauds. At the Hacked cyber safety awareness session at Cloud 9 Society in Nehrunagar, jointly organized by TOI and Gujarat CID Crime, the sleuths explained all about preventing debit and credit card fraud.

PHED to implement Danish water projects in 3 districts

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

A team of Danish experts visited the state to chalk out a plan of action for the development of urban water sector over the next three years inRajasthan.

Prior to this, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the administrators of the City of Aarhus inDenmarkand Rajasthan on May 19.

Besides Jaipur, the team visited Bhilwara and Jhunjhunu districts Nawalgarh to study the water supply systems.

PHED is planning to form a steering committee to improve the quality of urban drinking water, reduce non-revenue water or sewage, plan recycling of Waste Water Management and devise solutions for rejuvenation of rivers. The ground water aquifer mapping is also an important aspect of the agreement.

Meghalaya major transit point for drug trafficking

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Meghalayahas turned into a major transit point for drug trafficking because of its close proximity to the Golden Triangle, a fact that has put authorities on very high alert, the director general of state Police,LR Bishnoi, has said. He added that the state has approximately 2.5 lakh users of drugs and psychotropic substances, including injectable drugs.

The police department has come out with a strategic plan by strengthening and coordinating with all stakeholders, he said. In the past 15 days,Meghalaya Policehave conducted a record 142 drug awareness programmes in schools, colleges and other public places across the state reaching out to over 15,061 young people, he added.

Delivering his address on the theme Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises, deputy chief ministerPrestone Tynsongexpressed concern on the increasing number of drug users among children and youth in the state and said children can easily succumb to pressure of their peers and friends to turn to these Intoxicants for comfort.

CoE tag for Polytechnics and ITI colleges will enhance industry training for students

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

Assam government recently decided to upgrade its 34 state polytechnics and 43 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Centres of Excellence (CoEs). This will help in imparting the advanced skills to students and build a support system to make the state a hub for technology and industrial Growth.

Polytechnics and ITIs in other states are following the trend, to offer diploma courses that will help them find a job in Industry 4.0.

The up-gradation will bring upscaling of technical competencies, says Hanif Noorani, additional chief secretary at Skill, EMPLOYMENT and Entrepreneurship Department of Assam Skill development Mission (ASDM).

For skill development among students at a large scale, polytechnics, and ITIs play a crucial role as more than 90% of Learning happens through practical training. Mohanty says, Training in a specialized skill is the fulcrum of vocational Education and acquisition of such skills requires industrial exposure offered through industrial labs run at polytechnics and ITIs. We need to leave aside outdated technologies and stay updated with industry trends and align training to students through industry collaborations

Thirty four new courts to come up in Odisha

June 14, 2024 by rawan239

A committee led by finance minister Niranjan Pujari has given its nod to establish 34 new courts16 civil, 10 commercial and eight sessions courtsin the state, law minister Pratap Jena said here on Monday. Jena said the new courts will help reduce pendency and take the delivery system closer to people.

Odisha currently has more than 700 Subordinate Courts. According to a reply given by Union law ministerKiren RijijuinLok Sabhaon March 25, total 15.45 lakh cases are pending cases in lower courts in Odisha. They include 12.38 lakh criminal cases and 3.07 lakh civil cases. Similarly, 1.89 lakh cases are pending in theOrissaHigh Court, the HCs pendency report as on April 29 on its website shows.

Two commercial courts will come up in Puri besides one each in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Balasore, Balangir, Kendrapada, Jeypore and Rourkela. One commercial court will be a Leave Reserve court to hear cases in case of any commercial court judge on leave.
The law department has asked the registrar of the Orissa high court for staff pattern and revised cost estimates for establishment of the different courts. As per the current estimate, the government would spend Rs 21.26 crore on Infrastructure.