12.07.23

3 NE states at bottom of school education performance index

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ThePerformance Grading Indexfor 2021-22 prepared by the Centre that ranks states on the status of the school Education has flagged the countrys three bottom states (Akanshi-3 grade) Arunachal Pradesh,MeghalayaandMizoramto put more effort to reach the top slot.

The index is aimed to propel states and UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions to bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes that is based upon five categories Learning outcomes and quality, access, and facilities, Equity and Governance processes.

The highest achievable grade is called Daksh, which is for a scoring of more than 90% of the grade range and the lowest grade Akanshi-3 is for scores up to 10% grade range. None of the states and UTs has attained the top five grades Daksh (91%-100%), Utkarsh (81%-90%), Atti-Uttam (71%-80%), Uttam (61%-70%) and Prachesta-1 (51%-60%).

In 2021-22, only two states and UTs, Punjab and Chandigarh, are at the top, both attaining Grade Prachesta -2 (41%-50%).

Six states/UTs are in grade Prachesta-3 (31%-40%), 13 states/UTs in grade Akanshi -1 (21% to 30%), 12 in grade Akanshi – 2 (11% to 20%) and three (all from NE) are in grade Akanshi 3 (Up to 10%). The remaining four NE statesAssam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura are just one notch above the bottom in Akanshi 2 grade.
The report published on Friday stated that the maximum and minimum scores obtained by the states and UTs in 2021-22 are 659.01 and 420.64 respectively and deviation is 238.37 or 23.8% of the maximum points.


139 EV charging stations set up in Assam since 2021

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As many as 139 electric vehicle charging stations have been set up byIndian OilinAssamsince 2020-21 to meet the countrys net zero emission target by 2070. Altogether, 270 such stations have been set up across the NE region.

Setting up the stations will encourage people to shift towards electric vehicles and in that way, we together will be able to reduce the Carbon Emission sooner. Net zero emission by 2070 is a target set up by the Central government. However, we believe that if we move in tandem, then we will be able to make zero emission by 2046, which would be 100 years of Independence, he added.

Apart from 139 EV charging stations in Assam, 33 have been set up in Manipur, 31 in Tripura, 27 in Arunachal Pradesh, 26 in Meghalaya, 12 in Nagaland and two inMizoram.

The Assam government brought Electric Vehicle Policy in 2021 and Vehicle Scrappage Policy last year with a view to promote EVs, converting the government vehicles and public transport to EVs by 2030 and scrapping the vehicles reaching 15 years of age.

The electric vehicle policy seeks to encourage rapid adoption of electric vehicles in a manner where they contribute to 25% of all new vehicle registrations by 2026. However, lack of enough charging stations has been the biggest stumbling block in the transition to EVs.

In order to attract people towards EVs, the announced an incentive of Rs 20,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 1,50,000 for two wheelers, three wheelers and four wheelers respectively for early adoption of EVs. Exemption or reimbursement of registration charges and road tax on electric vehicles for 5 years will also be provided as per the policy.

Govt mulls portal to overseestate disaster response system

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The has decided to create a web portal to monitor and manage the disaster response system in districts during emergencies and rescue operations.

Since ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) andOFES(Odisha Fire&Emergency Service) are the first responders during emergency, rescue and evacuation operations, we want to further streamline their Services. A web portal will be developed for inventory of all disaster response equipment, vehicles and accessories available at ODRAF units and fire stations in districts for proper tracking, timely repair and maintenance. This will ensure functionality of the emergency equipment for optimum utilization at the time of disaster, a senior government official said.
While ODRAF has 20 units in the state, OFES has around 345 stations across Odisha.

In the past 11 years, Odisha has seen 16 natural disasters, causing loss to public and private properties. The state was hit by 10 Cyclones, three droughts, two severe floods and one untimely rain between 2010 and 2021, official sources said. In October last year, the government announced to introduce disaster and pandemic management in the curriculum of schools and colleges to prepare Disaster Management yodhas (warriors) in every household.

Anna University to train farmers on operating drones

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As many as 400 farmers fromTamil NaduandKarnatakawill learn how to fly drones, maintain and repair them, in the next few months. They will undergo two weeks of training at the Centre for Aerospace Research Remote Pilot Training Organisation at Madras Institute of Technology in Chromepet, one of the four campuses ofAnna University.

The drones will be used to spray pesticide, organic fertilizer in the fields.
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) will give the certified farmers a drone, a three-wheeler and other equipment for free.

IFFCO has placed an order to purchase 2,500 drones for use in Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture. It would be one of the worlds biggest drone purchases till date. We will give these drones to farmers and rural entrepreneurs for free. Adding small, medium category drones to agriculture is important as it would give better results to Fertilizers.

Kerala likely to come up with an alternative model

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Even as CPM’s politburo raised a red flag against Centre’s push for the deployment of smart electric meters, on Tuesday informed the Union power ministry thatKSEBis all set to replace the legacy meters with smart meters.

Also,power minister K Krishnankuttyhas given instructions to officials concerned to explore thealternative modelsuggested by pro-CPM unions in KSEB for switching to the smart meter regime.

Many states were forced to implement the scheme and thereby withdraw from the responsibility of power distribution and hand it over to private companies for profit maximization. This will impose an unbearable burden on the poor and farmers. This project must be scrapped immediately, said the CPM in its statement.

But, the issue has not even come up for discussion in the state cabinet. Also, CPM Leadership appears to be confident of circumventing the politburo approach by presenting a Kerala-model alternative to TOTEX model project implementation where private firms install and collect cost of meters from consumers in equal instalments over seven years.
Sources confirmed that the state government, following the protest by pro-CPM unions, has finally decided to weigh the feasibility of an alternative model suggested by the unions. Union leaders were only opposing the TOTEX model and had suggested the deployment of smart meters by KSEB, pivoting on the technology available with C-DAC.

Since Centre has unequivocally clarified to state that unless the latter sticks to the modernization plans recommended in the sector, it could lose the grant offered for such a project. The grant component of such projects is 60%.

SAAK: Ensure free supply of medicines at govt hospitals

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Sarvatrika Arogya AndolanaKarnataka(SAAK), a state-level Network of several right-based organisations has urged the to take steps to strengthen the existing Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL), located at Bengaluru to ensure that any person who visits the government hospitals should get free medicines.

SAAK has urged the minister to setup up a committee headed by anIASofficer with experience in Health system management and to make the officer in charge of KSMSCL without interference from any political leader. The Ias officer should be held responsible for the lack of adequate medicines at various government hospitals and an enquiry should be done.

Hyderabad-basedMaxivision Eye Hospitalhas raised up to Rs 1,300 crore from healthcare-focused private equity playerQuadria Capital.As per estimates, the Indian eyecare industry bagged investments of over Rs 7,000 crore last year.

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While Quadria Capital will initially invest around Rs 600 crore in picking up a minority stake in Maxivision, it will later follow this up with an of up to Rs 700 crore for an additional stake in the eyecare chain.
The fundraise is expected to helpMaxivisionnot only scale up operations through organic and inorganic Growth but will also help it cater to the growing demand for eyecare in the largely underserved tier-2 and tier-3 markets.

Maxivision, which was set up in 1996, operates 42 centres in six states of south, including Telangana andAndhra Pradesh, and west India. Quadria said it sees an opportunity for Maxivision to scale up through accretive tuck-in acquisitions of standalone clinics, especially in states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala andMadhya Pradesh.

State stands at 17th position in PGI index

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Andhra Pradeshended at the 17th place among all the states and Union Territories in the performance grading index 2.0 (PGI 2.0) 2021-22, the results of which were released by the Union Government on July 7. The assessment was done based on the performance of the school Education system of the state.

The PGI covers 73 indicators, focused more on qualitative assessment besides including digital initiatives and teacher education. The states/UT that were ahead of AP in the PGI 2.0 were , Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep,Maharashtra, Puducherry,Punjab,Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
While the grades have been divided into 10 different categories based on the scores, no state/UT could achieve the top four grades. Chandigarh and Punjab are the only states/UTs that have made it to the fifth grade Prachesta-2 (641 700 score).

Six states/UTs entered into the top sixth category by scoring more than 581 points. Andhra Pradesh shared its place along with 13 other states/UTs in the Akanshi-1 (521 – 580), the seventh grade.

The PGI 2.0 structure comprises 1000 points, broadly consisting of six domains namely Learning outcomes and quality, access, Infrastructure and facilities, Equity, Governance processes, and teacher education and training. When it comes to the individual category scores, Andhra Pradesh scored more than 85% in the equity domain. The state also fared fairly well in access and teacher education and training domains.

Pune airports new cargo hub awaits nod to start operation

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In the past seven months, not one metric tonne of cargo has been exported from the Pune airport. This delay in the commencement of the integrated cargo terminal has become a source of frustration for small traders and those in the business of .

Sources in the airport said while the new facility is ready, a nod from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which provides permission for such facilities to operate at any airport, is still awaited. A team of BCAS personnel visited the facility earlier this week. They looked satisfied with the arrangements. However, they need to give us official permission to start the operations from the new facility. Our job is done. It is up to the BCAS now, an airport official said.

Domestic cargo imports and exports as well as international cargo exports were stopped by the BCAS in January 2023 due to certain regulatory and infrastructural issues at the existing cargo processing area. Later, some airlines like SpiceJet and IndiGo, were permitted to transport domestic cargo. Permission for international cargo exports was not given.