28.06.22

Assam: NE has potential to lead country in exports, Apeda

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Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), which has been helpingAssamfarmers get international markets for their natural, organic and GI-tagged Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture products, said the northeast has the potential to lead the country in exports.
Several consignments of litchi, pumpkin and Assam lemon (commonly known as kaji nemu in Assamese) were exported by Apeda from the state to different countries.

The state agriculture department under the aegis of Apeda held a conference on Friday focusing on the export potential of natural, organic and -certified agro-products here. The prime objective was to create an international market link for the farmers or the producers of the region.

Apeda has also planned to facilitate capacity building to officials of the agriculture department. The selected officials would be sent in batches toKarnataka,Maharashtraand Gujarat.

Assam cabinet nod to Rs 5000 crore for solar power

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TheAssam cabinet cleared an of Rs 5,000 crore for generation of 1,000 MW of solar power in collaboration with Neyveli Lignite Corporation, a ‘Navratna’ company under the coal ministry.

CM Himanta BiswaSarma, in his post-cabinet briefing, said this was to make the state self-sufficient in the Energy sector. “A joint venture company with Neyveli Lignite Corporation will be floated to generate the 1000 MW solar power on government land. This will be the first such initiative among PSUs in the energy sector.”

The cabinet also approved use of unutilized land of tea estates, not more than 5% of its total area, for other activities such as growing trees, tea tourism and setting up solar Plants.

Odisha to come up with plan to develop coastal areas

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With coastal erosion emerging as a major problem in the state, the Odisha government has decided to prepare a long term integrated plan to ensure of coastal areas and eco-supportive management of coastal Resources.

Stating that Odisha would be first state in the country to prepare such a plan, Patnaik said the expert agency IPE Global had been involved in the exercise to bring in international expertise and technical support for preparation of the perspective plan.

IIT Madras 5G test bed for Army Training Command

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The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) has announced to establish a 5G Testbed in association with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras.

The 5G test bed for Army Training Command will be established at Military College of Telecommunication at Mhow in Indore.

It will be used for operational use of 5G technology of Army, especially along the borders.

Under the MoU, IIT-Madras would provide consultancy, which will be duly supported by research to study feasibility and prototype development of 5G-enabled future communications.

Aim of the collaboration

ARTRAC and IIT Madras have collaborated with the aim of giving impetus to induction of systems, equipment, and devices using Niche technology. It is also aimed at using AI-based algorithms to enhance capabilities of armed forces. Collaboration will also promote collaborative and cooperative research as well as facilitate exchange of ideas for the development of new technology.

About Army Training Command

The Army Training Command is one among the seven commands of Indian Army. It is based at Shimla and was established in 1991. Its current commander is Lieutenant General SS Mahal.

HISTORY of ARTRAC

ARTRAC was established on October 1, 1991 at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. It later moved to Shimla on March 31, 1993. The command aims to maximize effectiveness of training.

25,000 MSMEs registered in State in current quarter: Minister

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In a year in which the has set a target to aid the launch of one lakh Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), close to 25,000 MSMEs have been newly registered in State in the current quarter, Industries Minister P. Rajeeve said on Monday.

Inaugurating the MSME day celebrations, he said that this is the highest number of MSME registrations in a year, surpassing the 17,000 achieved in an entire year in 2021. Minister for Local Self Governments M.V. Govindan, who launched help desks for providing support for aspiring entrepreneurs in all local bodies, said that a change in mindset among local body officials will help in the Growth of MSMEs.Currently, Kerala is in the 12th position in the number of MSMEs with 5.6% of such initiatives located here. By the next MSME day, we have to achieve even higher ranks. A total of 24,784 MSMEs have registered this quarter.

Around 80,000 workshops have been organised across all local bodies till now for aspiring entrepreneurs. Online applications have been received for 7 private industrial parks, in addition to 14 applications at the district level. License will be provided to all of them within 30 days. Technology clinics will be organised in all districts.

Data vouchers on anganwadi workers phones expire; digital initiative falters

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Both the state and central governments have been aggressively pushing the cause of digital administration, and although the advantages of many such initiatives are evident, the beneficiaries of many such schemes, on the other hand, are complaining of poor implementation on the part of the authorities.

Smartphones were distributed to anganwadi workers with the idea of streamlining the functioning of the Annganwadis including effective implementation of the various welfare schemes including PoshanAbhiyan . Unfortunately for the authorities, with the validity of the prepaid data and voice vouchers that the phones came with expiring, the scheme has now been rendered moot.

Anganwadi workers alleged that, in some taluks inKarnataka, the validity of the vouchers had expired six months ago. Disgruntled staff took exception with the fact teachers continue to be held responsible for the failure of such schemes. Anganwadi workers said that the cost of data vouchers was too prohibitive for them to recharge their phones by spending from their pockets.

Telangana inflation rate spirals to 9.45% in May, highest in India

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Telanganaclocked the highest rate in May at 9.45% (both rural and urban) among all Indian states, even as the national inflation rate edged down to 7.04% in the same month from an 8-year high in April, as per data of Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation.
Experts say Telangana‘s inflation is on a spiral and if this trend continues for next six months, the state’s economy could be severely hit. Telangana is closely followed byMaharashtraat 8.52%, sister stateAndhra Pradeshat 8.49%, West Bengal at 8.27% andJharkhandat 7.52% in the month of May.

Accordingly, Telangana’s general consumer indices were also the highest in the country in May at 187.7 points.

Prices are calculated using 2012 prices as the baseline. The general consumer price index stood at 180.7 in May, three points up from 177.7 in April.

AP govt drops laptops for tabs to students to cut costs

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Several lakh students of classes 9 to 12 studying in government schools inAndhra Pradeshwere on Monday left disappointed as the state could not keep its promise of delivering them laptop computers. Government sources now say the proposal to distribute laptops has been dropped as “they are costly and many digital Learning apps don’t work on them”.

Now, the government is contemplating to distribute only Tabs (tablet computers) to students of class 8. Each Tab, loaded with digital learning content, will cost the government Rs 12,000.

Goa celebrates Sao Joao festival 2022

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The people ofGoahas celebrated theSao Joao festival,the feast ofSt John the Baptistwith traditional enthusiasm after a two-year coronavirus-induced gap. The festival is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, who baptised Lord Jesus on the river of Jordan and is celebrated at the onset of monsoon. Siolim, a village in North Goa, hosts a traditional canoe parade on the occasion of Sao Joao.

A large number of people participated in the boat parade in Siolim village of Goas Bardez taluka, marking the beginnng of revelry in the Sao Joao festival. Traditionally, people jump into the well but since the wells are fast disappearing, people prefer to celebrate it in swimming pools. The festival is marked to herald the monsoon season in the state every year in June. People are often seen having a great time by enjoying and dancing in the artificial rain which adds charm to the celebrations.

New scorpion species found in western ghats

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A new species of scorpion belonging to genus chiromachetes has been discovered by researchers from Thackeray Wildlife Foundation.

This species has been named chiromachetes agasthyamalaiensis as it is endemic to the agasthyamalai mountain range in the western ghats.

The new species can be easily distinguished from all five known congeners by combination of non-overlapping morphological characters such as chela length-width ratio, femur length-width ratio, chela length-movable finger length ratio, the number of pectinal teeth, and subtle colour differences of both the sexes.