20-21.11.22

Online Survey to understand Causes and Solutions to Traffic Congestion

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Guwahati has been witnessing a huge increase in traffic congestion over the last few years. It has impacted the lives of almost everyone in one way or the other. People have lost productive hours due to delays, their expenses on fuel are increasing, people’s Stress levels are rising, and there has been a perceptible rise in noise and Air Pollution. Despite many attempts and measures taken by the government, the problem is becoming worse by the day. To understand the causes and probable solutions to the problem, Guwahati-based civil Society organisation GAMOF (Green and Active Mobility Forum), is conducting an online perception survey, for the citizens of Guwahati.

The survey also seeks to understand their travel behaviour. The citizen’s feedback and information can help to work on practical and scientific proposals that the government can consider for implementation.

Comviva signs pacts with tech institutions

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Digital solutions company Comviva signed MoUs with some leading technology universities in Bhubaneswar like KIIT and ITER for stronger collaboration to drive core technical competencies to develop market- appropriate talents and processes.

A similar process to build PARTNERSHIP with the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhubaneswar is in pipeline.

The Comviva would provide content, technologies, faculty training and access to experts in core areas of focus like digital payments, real-time Marketing and analytics, AI and data science and digital solutions, helping bridge the skill demands of the growing technology industry.

Tamil Nadu to regulate bike taxis, travel costs may go up

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Nearly three years after the Madras directed it to regulate operation of bike taxis, the TN transport department is to soon frame rules in accordance with the guidelines of the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) for aggregators.

Once approved, aggregators will need to pay `6 lakh to `10 lakh for obtaining a licence and spend a considerable amount every year on recruiting and training drivers. Once rules are introduced, transport officials say, two-wheelers deployed for commercial purposes including those used for delivering food and other essentials will be fitted with yellow number plates.

For instance, in Goa, one of the very few states where bike taxis are legal and aggregators pay permit fees, users pay `20 for the first kilometre and `10 for every additional km travelled. In TN, where bike taxis are unregulated and no permit fees are collected, most firms charge `7 for the first 5km and the per/ km charge is `12.

Bike taxis and even door delivery costs in TN might also get costlier once the regulations come into place. This is when the State Government should intervene and fix fares for all forms of vehicles deployed by aggregators, particularly two-wheelers as it is used by the maximum number of passengers of late.

Karnataka 14th in centres education grading index

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Karnatakastood 14th in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) released by the ministry of Education last week. With an overall score of 862, the states performance has seen a drastic improvement over the last four years.

PGI is a relatively new index that measures the performance of states/UTs to provide an insight into the status of school education. The data is drawn from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2020-21, National Achievement Survey MDM Portal, etc. The indicators include Learning outcomes, , access, Infrastructure, and Governance processes.

Karnataka moved up from the sixth level of 701-750 score in 2017-18 to level 5 in 2018-19, level 4 in 2019-20, and now level 3. There are no states in level 1 so far.

In level 2, seven states/UTs Gujarat,Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Punjab,Kerala, and Rajasthan have achieved a score of 900+.
Karnataka is second in the country in learning outcomes, with a score of 160. Rajasthan (168) tops the chart. In the domain of access, Karnataka has a score of 76. Kerala, Punjab and Delhi have 79, Tamil Nadu 78, and Andhra Pradesh 77.
Karnatakas biggest drawback is in infrastructure. With 123 points, the state is 28th in the domain. Indicators such as availability of ICT (information and communications technology) facilities and timely availability of textbooks and uniforms are measured in this domain, along with toilets, drinking water, classrooms, etc. But Karnataka has made the second-highest improvement from last year in this segment.

Telangana ULBs score high on tax, revenue mop-up: RBI

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According to a recentReserve Bank Of India(RBI) report on Municipal Finances, was next only to Bihar (0.84%) and AP (0.60%) in terms of municipal bodies spending on creating fixed assets and other developmental works at 0.37% of GSDP in 2019-20 (budget estimates).

Greater the capital outlay in any budget (central, state, urban or rural bodies), it indicates that amenities in the region were being improved. Telangana has steadily increased the capital outlay for MCs over the years and its share of GSDP has grown.

Capital outlay to GSDP per cent share was 0.18% in 2017-18, 0. 35% in 2018-19 (revised estimates) and 0.37% in 2019-20. Another interesting aspect is that Telangana (along with AP) is one of the only two states that allow corporations to borrow through Bonds.

Action plan to connect industry and polytechnics

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The director said the is playing a proactive role to bridge the gap between the Industry and polytechnic institutions.

She said all diploma holders should be ready with employable skills by the time they leave institutions.

In a big initiative to strengthen the academia and industry collaboration, theDepartment of Technical Educationorganised an orientation programme atAcharya Nagarjuna Universityon Monday. Principals and Training and Placement Officers (TPOs) of all government and private polytechnics in the state attended the session.

In next 25 years, India will lead the world as technology and content creation hub: Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur

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India will soon become vishwa guru or a world leader not only in film technology but also in content creation for cinema. The country is working towards becoming the worlds centrepoint in the film sector in terms of market as well a film production, Union minister for Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Singh Thakur said at the inaugural ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (Iffi) on Sunday in Goa.

Goa with its tremendous natural beauty is the most ideal place for filmmaking beyond Mumbai, he said.

A state-of-the-art film school will be established in Goa soon, Sawant said. He asked producers and investors to come forth to invest in film-related in Goa.

By 2025, Goa will have a world-class convention centre with a multiplex and other associated infrastructure over an area of 25 acres to host the Iffi inaugural ceremony, said the chief minister.

Reviewing the preparations for the G-20 Summit, the Cabinet Sub-Committee has decided to spend approximately Rs100 crores on the development works for the beautification of Amritsar city in connection with the G-20 Summit.

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The cabinet sub-committee, under the chairmanship of Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, also comprises Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, and Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO as its members.

The Minister informed that approximately Rs 100 crores will be spent on development works for the beautification of the city of Amritsar for the G-20 Summit. The extensive arrangements will be made for the success of this global event. With this international event, the state will emerge on the global tourism map, it would also give a boost to the Investment in the state, he said.

Giving details of the works to be done to strengthen the beauty and basic Infrastructure of the city, Dr Nijjar said that whatever work will be done, will be not only for the program, but will be strong and sustainable works according to the needs of the city residents.

HPs 200cr cherry economy faced with parasitic disease

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The spread of a parasitic disease in cherry trees has left horticulturists worried inHimachal Pradesh, raising concerns of a threat to the states Rs 200-crore, cherry-growing economy.

The infestation of phytoplasma parasites was first observed in cherry trees in June and July this year, but farmers were unfamiliar with it and did not worrt at the time. A team of scientists then in September confirmed the presence of phytoplasma parasites, which cause a systemic disease in cherry trees.

Mashobra regional horticultural research and training station senior scientist (plant pathology) Usha Sharma said in September, a team of scientists visited Baghi. She added samples were collected from the infected orchard and tests confirmed phytoplasma bacteria. She said earlier, phytoplasma was reported in peach trees inRajgarharea of Sirmaur district.