15-16.04.23

NESO demands withdrawal of AFSPA from entire NEThe North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), an apex body of eight student bodies, has demanded complete withdrawal of AFSPA and execution of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire region for the safeguard and welfare of the indigenous people.While talking to the media, he said that the people of the northeastern states region have faced a “lot of atrocities” because of AFSPA, with the latest being the killing of 13 daily wager earners in a case of “mistaken identity” at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district in December, 2021. The Union Home Ministry in two phases in 2022 and 2023 has reduced disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur but in certain areas the act remains effective.The AFSPA, which is sometimes termed by certain political parties and NGOs as “draconian law”, allows the Army and other central para-military forces to conduct raids and operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice or arrest warrant. It was lifted from Tripura in 2015, in Meghalaya in 2018, and in Mizoram in the 1980s.The ILP had been in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. On December 11, 2019, it was promulgated in Manipur, to allow an Indian citizen into the ILP enforced areas for a stipulated period with the written permission of the state and competent authority. The main aim of the ILP system is to check settlement of other Indian nationals in these states to protect the native population. Protection is also extended to the indigenous people with regard to land, jobs and other facilities.

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Rajasthan CM Gehlot approves constitution of welfare board for Sikh community

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the constitution of a welfare board for the Sikh community, an official release said.

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Sikh Welfare Board will have a chairman, a vice-chairman and five members. It will be administered by the minority affairs department.

The board will execute various work for the social, economic and cultural uplift of the Sikh community. A notification regarding its constitution has been issued by the minority affairs department.

Besides giving suggestions on better implementation of welfare schemes for the community, it will also make suggestions regarding the promotion of employment, art and culture and modernise traditional businesses.

Himachal Govt considering legalization of cultivation of cannabis: CM

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Himachal Government is considering legalization of the cultivation of cannabis in the State as it would play a significant role in generating revenue for the state besides proving beneficial for the patients for its medicinal properties, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday.

Sukhu said that the State Government was cautious about the potential increase in drug use and has formed a five-member committee of MLAs. The Committee will conduct a thorough study about each and every aspectrelated to cannabis cultivation in the State. The committee will visit areas where illegal cultivation of cannabis takes place and submit a report in a month and only on the basis of the report submitted by the committee the Government will take any decision, said the Chief Minister.

He said that even before Himachal Pradesh, cannabis cultivation has been kept under the legal purview in several states of the country. The neighboring state of Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to legalize cannabis cultivation in the year 2017, while controlled cultivation of cannabis is also being done in some districts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, controlled cultivation of cannabis has been permitted in several European Union countries including Uruguay, Canada, USA, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic, added Sukhu.

The State Government would consider all aspects, including regulatory measures and will study other states that have legalized it before making a final decision, said the Chief Minister.

Countrys soybean output rises 4% in kharif 2022

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Indias soyabean output in the kharif 2022 season is estimated at , up 4 per cent from the previous year due to improved per hectare yield, according to a survey report released by a trade body.

Soyabean production in Madhya Pradesh, the leading soyabean producing state in the country, is estimated to jump to 54 lakh tonne, the survey conducted by the trade body Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) showed. Soyabean yields in MP has increased to 1,069kgper hectare.

The trade body has upward revised the production estimate for India from 120.395 lakh tonne to 124.110 lakh tonne based on a survey carried from 22nd March to 3rd April 2023, covering an area of around 7,000 km in 37 major soybean growing districts of Madhya Pradesh,MaharashtraandRajasthan, a statement released by SOPA said.

The inputs of the survey are based on field visits and feedbacks from APMCs, farmers, traders, brokers, soybean processors, warehouses and stockists, SOPA said. The top three soyabean cultivating states Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are estimated to produce 54 lakh tonne, 49 lakh tonne and 10 lakh tonne respectively in the year 2022, according to SOPA. According to SOPA, farmers in India are still holding about 50 per cent of their produce anticipating higher prices of around Rs 7,000 a quintal they have seen in last two years.

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Rajasthan tops PM SHRI school selection

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Under the PM Schools for Rising India (PMSHRI) initiative, 402 government schools inRajasthanhave been selected in the first phase, the maximum number of schools from any state to be thus selected.

Under PM SHRI, Rs 2 crore will be given to each school for upgrading infrastructure and resources. BD Kalla, state education minister, said the selection of so many schools reflected the Gehlot governments success in improving school education.

The maximum number of government schools have been selected from Rajasthan in the first phase of PM SHRI scheme, including 346 government schools of secondary education and 56 government schools of primary education.

A total of 718 schools in the state will be included in this scheme, out of which Rajasthan has achieved special success by having 56% of the schools selected in the first phase itself. It is proposed that the remaining schools will be selected in the second phase in the month of July.

The benchmarks for the selection of government schools for this scheme include enrolment more than the state’s average enrolment, pucca building of schools in good condition, separate toilets for boys and girls, facility of pure drinking water, separate facility for hand washing, all teachers having ID cards as per guidelines, free access ramp, focus on security, electricity connection, library and necessary facilities forsportsactivities.

The maximum 28 schools have been selected from Jaipur, 24 from Jodhpur, 22 from Udaipur, 21 from Barmer and the rest from other districts. The least numbert is six schools from Sirohi and five schools from Bundi.

The PM SHRI envisages development of 14,500 government schools across the country. These schools will act as exemplar schools showcasing all components of the National Education Policy 2020 and offer mentorship to other local schools.

PM Modi launches railway projects, methanol plant in Assam

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled several railway projects across the Northeast region, while also inaugurating a methanol plant and laying the foundation stone for a bridge over the Brahmaputra river. Modi conducted the virtual inauguration of five railway works, along with other projects, from the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium

The newly rolled-out railway projects include the Digaru-Lumding and Gauripur-Abhayapuri sections, as well as the doubling of tracks between New Bongaigaon and Dhup Dhara.

Furthermore, Modi launched the electrification of the Raninagar-Jalpaiguri-Guwahati, Senchoa-Silghat, and Senchoa-Mairabari sections. The total cost of these projects is estimated to be Rs 7,300 crore

Nandini Gupta wins Femina Miss India 2023

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Nandini Gupta from Rajasthan has been crowned Femina Miss India World 2023 in a grand ceremony held recently, making her the winner of the 59th edition of the beauty pageant. The first runner-up was Shreya Poonja from Delhi, and the second runner-up was Thounaojam Strela Luwang from Manipur. The event featured dazzling performances by Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, and was hosted by Manish Paul and Bhumi Pednaker. Nandini will represent India at the 71st Miss World pageant, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates

India to challenge WTO panel ruling on ICT import duties at appellate body

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India is set to appeal against the recent ruling by the World Trade Organizations (WTO) trade dispute settlement panel, which found that the countrys import dues on certain information and technology products are inconsistent with global trade norms. The dispute was filed by the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan, which argued that the import duties imposed by India on certain informational and technology products violated WTO rules.

India will appeal the ruling in the WTOs appellate body, which is the final authority on such trade disputes. However, the appellate body is currently not functioning due to differences among member countries to appoint members, with the US blocking the appointment of members. Even if the appellate body starts functioning now, it could take over a year to take up Indias appeal.

World Art Day 2023 observed on 15th April

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UNESCOs General Conference declared April 15 as World Art Dayto commemorate Leonardo da Vincis birthday, recognizing the importance of art in promoting creativity, cultural diversity, and information exchange. Art has always encouraged innovation and sparked discussion among individuals worldwide.

However, to preserve artistic freedoms, it is crucial to safeguard the conditions that support and protect artists. This celebration is an opportunity to encourage the development, distribution, and enjoyment of art annually

World Art Day was officially established on April 15 during the General Assembly of the International Association of Art in 2012. This was the first year of celebration, and the date was chosen in honor of the renowned artist, Leonardo da Vincis birthday. Da Vinci has become a symbol of tolerance, multiculturalism, freedom of expression, and world peace

UAE Indias second largest export destination and third largest source of imports

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According to recent figures released by the Indian Ministry of Commerce, the UAE remains the second most significant export destination for India. The US and UAE held onto their first and second positions, respectively, during the financial year 2022-23. The ministrys figures, released two weeks into the new fiscal year, indicate a six percent increase in Indias overall exports of goods and services during the financial year that concluded last month

The US and the UAE retained their first and second positions as Indias top export destinations

Indias total exports of goods and services grew by six percent during this period

The Netherlands replaced China to secure the third spot in Indias overall export ranking due to higher imports of refined petroleum products via the maritime nation

Among the GCC countries, only Saudi Arabia made it to the list of Indias top export destinations and import sources, ranking eighth and fifth, respectively