17.09.21

Punjabcontinued to top the country in 2020 with a 22.9% crime rate (per lakh population) in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.As many as 6,909 cases under theNDPS Actwere registered last year across Punjab and of these, 4,039 were for possession of drugs for trafficking and 2,870 for possession of drugs for personal consumption, according to Crime in India 2020, released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday. In absolute numbers, Uttar Pradesh is ahead of Punjab with a total of 10,852 registered cases last year under the NDPS Act but its crime rate is 4.7%.

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Based on the 2011 Census survey, Punjabs projected Population in mid-2020 was 3.01 crore. Punjab was also at the top of the chart in 2019 but its crime rate per lakh population under the NDPS Act was 38.5% as a total of 11,536 cases were registered.

Himachal Pradesh, on the other hand, has climbed to the second spot in the country with 20.9% cases registered (per lakh population) under the NDPS Act last year. Out of the total 1,538 cases recorded under the NDPS Act in Himachal last year, 1,148 were for possession of drugs for trafficking and 390 for the possession of drugs for personal consumption. Himachals projected population was 73.62 lakh in mid-2020. The hill state was at the third spot in the country in 2019 with a crime rate of 19.7% per lakh population, with a total of 1,439 registered NDPS Act cases.

The number of cyber-crime cases in Punjab increased from 239 in 2018 to 243 in 2019 and 378 in 2020 even during the Covid-19 induced lockdown when many other crimes witnessed a downward slide. Punjab has a 16% conviction rate in cyber-crime cases.

The Department of Economic Affairs has given Jal Shakti Vibhag a go-ahead to seek funding from a French bank, AFD, for its sewerage and water supply project in five towns of the state. Following the approval, the Jal Shakti Vibhag will start negotiation with the bank in a couple of months.

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According to sources, the project will cost around Rs 790 crore.

The official further said that five towns Manali, Karsog, Bilaspur, Nahan and Palampur had been selected for the project. Apart from setting up a sewerage, the existing water supply system will be improved under this project. The per capita water supply of 70 litre per day will be enhanced to 135 litre per day, he said. In Manali, the six adjoining panchayats will be brought under the ambit of the project, he said.

The project aims at providing a round-the-clock high pressure water supply to Shimla residents, a bulk water scheme from the Sutlej that will provide an additional 67 MLD and improving and enhancing the sewerage in and around Shimla. The project is expected to take care of the citys water and sewerage requirement until 2050.

The Uttarakhand High Court chief justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan inaugurated the first e-Sewa Kendra at the high court premises in Nainital on Thursday. The registrar general Dhananjay Chaturvedi informed that this centre will help people in multiple ways. He said that people can now easily know about the facilities available digitally under the e-Court programme. Litigants and defendants will also be aware of the updated status of the cases, leaves of judges and dates of hearings. Besides this, other crucial information will be available in the e-Sewa Kendra too, stated Chaturvedi. He said that people can also get information about seeking free legal services from District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and Supreme Court Legal Services Committee through the centre.

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He revealed that this e-Seva Kendra is the first service centre in the state and the next centre will be opened in Almora soon.

Considering the importance of such centres in the present times, more will be established in all the district courts in future, stated Chaturvedi.

Uttar Pradeshaccounts for half of the countrys illegal weapon seizures, suggests data released by theNational Crime Records Bureau(NCRB) for 2020.

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As many as 67,947 firearms were seized under the Arms Act in the country in 2020, with UP topping the list (32,776 seizures), the data states.

Madhya Pradesh follows UP with a distant 10,841 illegal arms seizures.

Even in the licensed category, UP held the distinction with 65% of the total seizures in the country.

In numerical terms, out of 2,126 licensed weapons seized in the country, UP accounted for 1,400.

However, when it comes to seizure of illegal ammunition, Jammu & Kashmir topped the chart with 27,103 ammunition, including bullets of all calibers that account for more than 50% seized in the entire country. However, only 474 arms were seized in the troubled state.

The NCRB data also reveals arms seizure from anti-national Elements, where UP again accounts for 77% of total seizures in the country. Out of 5,631 such weapons, 4,313 came from UP. Out of 27,103 ammunition seized in J&K, 27,083 was in possession of anti-national elements.

The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)reportCrime In India 2020 has revealed thatJharkhandregistered a very high number of criminal cases, including murder and offences related to Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribes (ST) and dowry.

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In Jharkhand, the highest number of murders took place for personal gains as the motive followed by vendetta and enmity (269), love affairs (62), dowry (56) and illicit relationships (36).

The rate of crime under the Dowry Act was at 8.2%, which was also the highest among all the states. Karnataka with a figure of 4.6% was second while the national Average was 1.6%. The state also registered 1,518 dowry cases in which 1,535 persons became victims. The projected Population of Women during the year was 185.9 lakh.

Jharkhand also recorded the highest number of cases under the SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act with a figure of 180 while Rajasthan came second with 29 cases. A total of 479 cases related to various SC, ST acts was recorded in Jharkhand, which was the second highest. UP was on the top of list with 2,578 cases.

State art, culture and youth affairs ministerAlok Ranjan Jha said the government was committed to establishing a sports university inBiharby April next year. The minister made the statement while addressing an event organised by theBihar Industries Association(BIA).

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The government is making all efforts to establish a Sports university in Bihar by April next year in order to promote all types of sports. Steps will also be taken for more facilities at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna and other stadiums elsewhere in the state.

The BIA acts as a bridge between the government and youth and this scheme covers training in tally, computer and basics of accounting.

Chhattisgarh Chief MinisterBhupesh Baghel said abadmintonacademy would be set up in Raipur.

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He made the announcement while chairing a meeting of representatives of Sports associations here, an official said.

The CM saidChhattisgarh Sports Development Authorityhad been set up to improve sports facilities and provide a platform to budding talents.

He asked firms to operate sports academies with CSR funds, adding that industries functioning in the state would be entrusted with the responsibility of stadium maintenance, appointment of coaches of national and international level, and arrangement of diet and accommodation for players.

Digital farm advisorystartupBharatAgri has raised $6.5 million in aSeries Around led by Omnivore, with participation from existing investorsIndia Quotientand 021 Capital.BharatAgri offers farmers an app-based platform for AI-based agronomy services on a paid subscription basis, which increases farm incomes through implementation of scientific farming techniques.

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Traditional Farming practices fail to factor in changing climatic conditions, dwindling https://exam.pscnotes.com/natural-Resources“>Natural Resources, and optimal use of expensive crop inputs. BharatAgri says its proprietary algorithm collects data on more than 30 critical parameters to provide customized advisory across multiple crops, including grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables. Farmers get a fully digital and automated service, at an affordable price.

Over the past 12 months, BharatAgri has recorded 20x Growth in paid subscription sales with a 65% renewal rate. It currently has more than 33,000 active paid users and aims at expanding its subscription base to 150,000 by March 2022.

Backed by high demand since the pandemic hit, the number of internet subscribers inGujaratsurged in 2020.

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According to data from theTelecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI), Internet subscribers in Gujarat stood at 4.8 crore as on December 31, 2020 against 4.4 crore a year earlier. According to telecom sources, with more people working from Home, the number of internet users has increased.

According to the TRAI data, the number of connections grew in both rural and urban areas. However, in the rural areas, the rate of increase was faster than in urban areas, albeit on a lower base.

Rural internet subscribers grew by 13% in this period from 1.31 crore in 2019 to 1.47 crore in 2020, whereas urbaninternet subscribernumbers rose by 8.9% from 3.12 crore in 2019 to 3.41 crore in 2020. The number of people shifting to high-speed connections also increased in this the same period. According to the report by TRAI, the number of narrowband subscribers i.e. those opting for internet connections with slower speeds, fell. The number of people opting for broadband or high-speed connections went up. In 2020, the number of narrowband internet users fell by 17.5 lakh or 28.5%, against 24.5 lakh such subscribers in 2019.

The assembly passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021 to increase the punishment for food and medicine adulteration. Under the new amendment, the offence has been made cognizable and non-bailable and will invite a sentence ranging from three years to life term along with a penalty of Rs 50,000.

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Sections 272 to 276 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with offences relating to adulteration of food, drink, drug or medical preparations. The offences are punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Rs 1000, or with both. The offences are non-cognizable and except offences related to adulterating any drug or medical preparation under Section 274, the offences under sections 272, 273, 275 and 276 are bailable.