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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
MoHUA Organises “Utkrishtata ki Ore Badhte Kadam” Event; Honours PRAISE & SPARK Award Winners Under PM SVANidhi & DAY-NULM
On 18 July 2024, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) organised “Utkrishtata ki Ore Badhte Kadam: Celebrating Achievements, Inspiring Excellence” event to honour best performers under the Prime Minister (PM) Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Yojana, and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
- The event was organised to commemorate the outstanding accomplishments of the year 2023-24 and recognise the contributions of key stakeholders, including central ministries, state governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and lending institutions.
i.During the event, the Annual Report of PM SVANidhi and a compendium of DAY-NULM success stories were released.
ii.The Union Minister felicitated PRAISE and SPARK Award winners under the PM SVANidhi and DAY-NULM schemes.
iii.He also launched new features of the PM SVANidhi mobile application (app), including voice-based grievance tools, chatbots, and e-Parichay cards.
About the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):
Union Minister– Manohar Lal Khattar (Constituency: Karnal, Haryana)
Minister of State(MoS) – Tokhan Sahu (Constituency: Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)
>> Read Full News
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs 7th NCORD Meeting; Launches National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ & NCB’s Annual Report 2023
Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) chaired the 7th Apex Level Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) Meeting, in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi) and launched the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS(Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra)’.
- He virtually inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Office at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and also released the NCB’s Annual Report 2023 and Compendium on ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’.
- Objective: The meeting focussed on coordinating and synergising the efforts of various central and state government agencies involved in countering drug trafficking and abuse in India.
Note: The NCORD mechanism was formed in 2016 for better coordination between the states and the MHA and has been further strengthened through a 4-tier system in 2019.
Points to Note:
i.The NCB Zonal Office in Srinagar will focus on curbing drug trafficking through India’s northwestern border.
- NCB now has 30 zonal offices and 7 regional offices.
ii.Nasha Mukt Bharat is a flagship campaign to enhance the evidence-based approach towards substance abuse.
iii.The MHA will achieve the goal of a drug-free India by 2047 through a 3-point strategy of strengthening institutional structure; coordination among all narco agencies; and extensive public awareness campaign.
NCB Annual Report 2023:
i.The NCB Annual Report 2023 highlights the efforts and accomplishments of NCB in the fight against drug trafficking and drug abuse.
ii.It includes data on recent seizures, the latest trafficking trends, actions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPS), financial investigation including action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), etc.
Note: From the year 2004 to 2023, one lakh 52 thousand(Kilogram)kg of drugs worth Rs 5,933 crore were seized, while in the ten years from 2014 to 2024, this quantity increased to 5,43,000 kg, which is worth more than Rs 22,000 crore
Helpline MANAS:
i.The National Narcotics Helpline MANAS or Narcotics Prohibition Intelligence Centre will have a toll-free number 1933.
ii.The helpline aims to establish a user-friendly platform for every citizen to conveniently report drug-related matters 24×7.
iii.NCB, a federal anti-narcotics agency under the MHA will monitor this helpline.
iv.By using the helpline citizens can connect with the NCB for anonymous reporting and consulting related to issues like drug abuse, deaddiction, and rehabilitation.
v.Upon verifying the details provided, the NCB will initiate action under the established procedures of Indian law and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Web Portal:
i.Along with the toll-free number, MANAS will have a web portal, a mobile application (app), and a Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) app.
ii.The web portal is exclusively dedicated to addressing issues regarding drug-related matters including drug trafficking, illegal sale, manufacturing, illicit cultivation of narcotic drugs, etc.
iii.The NCB along with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) developed a web portal and mobile app “MAPDRUGS“.
- This app aims to curb illegal cultivation by using accurate Geographic Information System (GIS) information.
Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB):
Director General(DG) – Satya Narayan Pradhan
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Formed – 1986
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurates NLFC and Launches Bhusanket Web Portal & Bhooskhalan Mobile App
On July 19, 2024, Union Minister Gangapuram (G) Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Coal, and Ministry of Mines inaugurated the National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) at Geological Survey of India (GSI), Dharitri Campus, Salt Lake City, Kolkata in West Bengal (WB).
- He also launched the Bhusanket Web Portal (https://www.bhusanket.gsi.gov.in) and Bhooskhalan Mobile Applocation(App).
- These launches highlight GSI’s commitment to using technology and innovation for sustainable development, resource management, and disaster mitigation in India.
About National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC):
i.Aimed at Landslide hazard mitigation in India, its inauguration will benefit the residents of Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri districts from live forecasting reports starting July 20, 2024.
- It will operationalize the regional Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) nationwide by 2030.
ii.NLFC issue early warning bulletins for all landslide-prone states.
iii.Equipped with advanced technology, NLFC will provide early information to local administration and communities, update landslide inventories, and integrate real-time rainfall and slope instability data for enhanced forecasting accuracy.
About Web Portal & App :
The Bhusanket Web Portal is an advancement in disaster risk reduction, providing crucial data on landslide hazards and enabling short- and medium-range forecasting.
- The portal integrate with the Bhooskhalan Mobile App, it ensures rapid dissemination of daily forecasts and allows stakeholders to share and update landslide information.
About Geological Survey of India (GSI):
Founded in 1851, GSI has evolved from coal exploration to mapping geological structures and critical minerals. Exploration programs for critical minerals rose from 127 in 2023 to 196 in 2024. It is an office under the Ministry of Mines.
Director General(DG)– Janardan Prasad
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal(WB)
Regional Office – Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata
BIS signs MoU with IISc, Bengaluru to Promote Standardization
On July 19, 2024, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for the establishment of the ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at the IISc.
- Aim: To integrate academic expertise into standards formulation and incorporate Indian standards into academic curricula, ultimately contributing to safer and more reliable products and services in India.
Key Points:
i.The BIS Standardization Chair Professor will foster collaboration between BIS and IISc, enhancing participation in standardization and conformity assessment.
ii.The initiative includes engaging academia in national and international standardization efforts through technical committees, supporting Research and Development (R&D), co-hosting, events exploring Centres of Excellence(CoE), sharing knowledge and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.
iii.This MoU is part of BIS’s broader strategy to work with premier institutions across India, with similar agreements made with IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Bombay, Maharshtra; IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal (WB); IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP); IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu (TN), among others.
About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
It is the National Standard Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 .
Director General– Pramod Kumar Tiwari
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Founded – 1986
DoT’s NTIPRIT, NICF and WMTDC merged into NCA ; Headed by Dr. Neeraj Mittal
On July 19, 2024, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Ministry of Communications (MoC) has approved the merger of Department of Telecommunications‘ (DoT’s) three training institutes viz. Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP)-based National Telecommunications Institute for Policy Research, Innovation and Training (NTIPRIT); Ghitorni, New Delhi, Delhi-based National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF); and and New Delhi-based Wireless Monitoring Training & Development Centre (WMTDC) into single administrative entity, ‘National Communications Academy (NCA)’ with immediate effect.
- Aim: To enhance integration and efficiency by streamlining training, optimizing resources, and offering a holistic approach to skill-building in the communications sector.
- This approval has been made on the recommendation of the Committee for Organisational Reforms.
Composition:
i.It will be headed by the Secretary (Telecom/T)-Currently Dr. Neeraj Mittal, as its ex-officio Chairperson
ii.The Additional Secretary (T)-Currently Niraj Verma, will be its Vice-Chairperson.
iii.Its Governing Council (GC) will comprise four members – Member (Finance), Member (Services), Member (Technology), and Wireless Advisor; while Additional Secretary(T)- will be Member Secretary.
iv.Two academicians from the top 10 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)/Indian Institutes of Management IIMs/other national institutions (based on National Institutional Ranking Framework(NIRF) rankings), nominated by the Chairperson.
v.With the approval of the Chairperson, up to two Faculty members from NCA should be nominated, along with up to two representatives of Telecom Industry Associations or Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from Telecom Companies.
About NCA:
i.The NCA operates as a single unit across its three campuses (Ghaziabad and two at Ghitorni) for budget and transfers.
ii.With Shared facilities, faculty, and technology will boost learning experiences and encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary research and innovation.
iii.The NCA Chairperson will have overall general control over the affairs of the academy, including decisions on budget, training plans, curriculum, guest faculty, transfers, asset management, and delegation to unit heads.
- The GC will handle strategic, policy, budget, and significant operational matters, meeting quarterly to discuss training strategies and policy issues, with minutes submitted to the Union Minister MoC for guidance and approval.
- Unit Heads report directly to the Chairperson, NCA.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI Sets up Committee to Review Fee Structure for White-Label ATMs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has established a committee headed by Sunil Mehta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to review the fee structure for White-Label ATMs (WLAs).
- Aim: To recommend a fair and sustainable model that balances all stakeholders’ interests and will evaluate current policies and practices.
- The committee will assess fee structure, existing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) infrastructure, and international best practices and will submit its report to T Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor, RBI.
Note: India’s ATM market is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2024 to 2032.
What are WLAs?
i.WLAs are ATMs set up, owned, and operated by non-banks. The non-bank ATM operators are authorised under the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 by the RBI.
ii.In 2012, the RBI allowed non-banking companies (incorporated under the Companies Act) to set up, own, and operate WLAs.
Note: In 2016, the RBI permitted White-Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to source cash from retail outlets, and in 2019, the RBI allowed on-tap authorisation for WLAs.
Committee Composition:
The committee includes representatives from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI); leading banks; and other stakeholders including ATM manufacturers.
- Currently, 4 authorised non-bank entities are operating WLAs in India .
Challenges:
i.The current interchange fee is uniform for both bank-operated ATMs and WLAs.
- The interchange fee is about Rs 17 for financial transactions and Rs 6 for non-financial transactions.
- Earlier, white-label ATM operators (WLAOs) had suggested a revision of interchange fee for financial transactions to up to Rs 30 and for non-financial transactions to Rs 10.
ii.Decreased ATM transactions due to increased digital banking.
iii.Lower transaction volume in rural areas.
About the Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
The RBI was established on 1 April 1935 by the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934. Though originally privately owned, since nationalisation in 1949, the RBI has been fully owned by the Government of India (GoI).
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors– Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar and Swaminathan J
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Arka Fincap & Central Bank of India Entered Co-lending Partnership to Offer MSME Loans
Arka Fincap Limited, a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and a step-down subsidiary of Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), and the Central Bank of India (CBI), entered into a strategic co-lending partnership to offer Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) loans at competitive rates, expanding their reach across India.
- Under the arrangement, Arka Fincap will originate and process loan proposals for the MSME sector based on the jointly formulated credit parameters and eligibility criteria.
- The CBI will take 80% of the loans into its books under mutually agreed terms and the Arka Fincap will service the loan accounts throughout the life cycle of the loans.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Eurosport India Appoints Shikhar Dhawan as India Brand Ambassador For MotoGP 
Eurosport India, an Indian sports channel of Discovery Asia-Pacific has appointed Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan as Brand Ambassador for MotoGP in India.
- As an ambassador, Shikhar Dhawan will promote the MotoGP, Grand Prix motorcycle racing, to the audiences across India.
Note: In February 2024, Eurosport India has extended its broadcasting rights for MotoGP in India for 3 years with Dorna, demonstrating its commitment to provide world-class sports content to Indian audiences.
Key Points:
i.This partnership aims to increase the popularity of motorcycle racing in India through a new campaign titled ‘Face Kar Race Kar’.
ii.The campaign demonstrates MotoGP’s indomitable spirit, celebrating resilience and encouraging fans to tackle challenges with determination.
Additional info:
i.The 2024 MotoGP season has seen 9 races so far, with 11 more scheduled across Europe, Asia, and Down Under. The season will conclude with the BritishGP at Silverstone in August 2024.
ii.2024 Indian Grand Prix, initially scheduled for September, has been cancelled. The MotoGP Indian Grand Prix will be held at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in March 2025.
About MotoGP:
i.MotoGP is a top motorcycle world championship established by the Federation Internationale De Motorcyclisme (FIM) in 1949.
ii.It is also called the Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.
About Eurosport India:
Head – Ruchir Jain
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Launched – 2017
HSBC Appoints Georges Elhedery as its Next CEO
HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s largest bank has appointed Georges Elhedery as its group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from September 2 2024. Currently he is serving as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at HSBC.
- He is the third CEO for HSBC Holdings Plc in less than 8 years.
i.Elhedery replaces Noel Quinn, who announced his exit in April 2024. Noel Quinn will remain CEO until his successor starts in the role.
ii.He began his career in banking as a rates trader before joining HSBC in 2005.
iii.He has been serving as the Co-head of the Global Banking and Markets business, the division that houses HSBC’s trading and investment since 2020.
iv.He has served as the CEO of HSBC’s Middle Eastern, North African, and Turkish region between July 2016 and February 2019.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA Scientists discovered 6 New Exoplanets
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scientists have discovered 6 new exoplanets namely- HD36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c.
- With this the total number of confirmed exoplanets discovered to 5502.
- This marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth and the Solar System.
Note: Exoplanet are the planets orbiting a star outside the solar system. The free-floating exoplanets are known as rogue planets.
About the New Exoplanets:
i.HD 36384 b: It is a super-Jupiter that orbits a huge M giant star nearly 40 times the size of the Sun. It was discovered using the radial velocity method, which measures the “wobble” of far-off stars caused by the gravitational tug of orbiting planets.
ii.TOI-198 b: It is most probably a rocky planet that orbits on the innermost edge of the habitable zone around its star, an M dwarf.
- It was discovered using the transit method, which detects the dimming of starlight as exoplanets pass in front of their host stars in their orbit.
iii.TOI-2095 b and TOI-c: Both these exoplanets are large, hot super-Earths that orbit in the same system around a shared star, an M dwarf. These planets are close to their star and they are likely more similar to Venus than Earth.
- Both these exoplanets were discovered using the transit method.
iv.TOI-4860 b: It is a Jupiter-sized planet or a “hot Jupiter”, that orbits an M4.5 host, a star at the transition between fully and partially convective interiors.
- It completes an orbit after every 1.52 days which means it is very close to its star.
- It was also discovered by using the transit method.
v.MWC 758 c: It is a giant protoplanet that orbits a very young star. It is one of the 1st exoplanets discovered in a system where the star has a protoplanetary disk, offering information about early planetary formation.
- It was discovered using direct imaging.
Key Instruments for Detection of Exoplanets:
i.Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the space telescope launched by NASA in 2018, uses transit method to detect exoplanets.
- So far, TESS has identified thousands of exoplanet candidates and confirmed over 320 planets.
ii.NASA’s flagship telescopes like : Spitzer, Hubble, and James Webb Space Telescope (launched in 2021) have been used to discover and study exoplanets.
iii.Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope of NASA is expected to be launch in May 2027. It will use a technology demonstration called the Roman Coronagraph Instrument, to directly image exoplanets.
Additional info:
i.In 1992 (almost 31 years ago), scientist confirmed the 1st exoplanets when they detected twin planets, Poltergeist and Phobetor, orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12.
ii.The number of discovered exoplanets breached the mark of 5,000 in March 2022.
About National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
Administrator– Bill Nelson
Headquarters– Washington D.C., United States of America (U.S.A.)
Established– 1958
‘Gaofen-11 05’: China Launches its New Earth Observation Satellite
On July 19 2024, China launched ‘Gaofen-11 05’, a new high resolution optical Earth Observation Satellite (EOS), into space onboard Long March-4B carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) in North China’s Shanxi Province, China.
- This is the fifth Gaofen-11 high resolution satellite launched to its China High-definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS) constellation.
Note: It marks the 528th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series and China’s 33rd orbital mission of 2024.
About Gaofen-11 05:
i.This satellite will be used for conducting land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, land ownership verification, disaster prevention and mitigation.
ii.It will also offer information support for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the modernisation of national defence.
About Gaofen-11 & CHEOS:
i.Gaofen-11 is a series of civilian Earth observation satellites developed and launched for CHEOS. The first satellite of the series, Gaofen-11 01, was launched in 2018.
ii.The Gaofen-11 series have large (1.5-meter-diameter-plus) apertures for optical remote sensing.
iii.CHEOS is a state-sponsored programme aimed to develop a near-real time, all-weather, global surveillance network consisting of satellite, near-space (stratosphere) airships, and aerial observation platforms.
About China:
President – Xi Jinping
Premier – Li Qiang
Capital – Beijing
Currency – Chinese yuan (CNY) or renminbi (RMB)
SPORTS
APC Appoints Deepa Malik, India’s 1st Woman Paralympic Medallist, as Sub-regional Representative for South Asia
The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) at its 34th Executive Board meeting appointed Dr. Deepa Malik, India’s 1st woman Paralympic medallist, as the sub-regional representative for South Asia. This appointment for the 1st time increases female representation on the APC Executive Board to 5, the highest in its history.
- Dr. Deepa Malik is the 1st woman to represent India at international level sports in her category of disability (F-53) and also the first ever Indian paraplegic woman swimmer, biker, and car rallyist.
- She is India’s 1st female para-athlete to win a Silver Medal in the Shotput F53 category at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a lifetime personal best performance of 4.61 meters.
- She was honoured with the Arjuna Award (National Sports Award) in 2012; the Padma Shri for Sports in 2017; and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award) in 2019.
- She was also selected as the Sir Edmund Hillary Prime Minister’s (PM) Fellow for New Zealand for 2019 by then PM Jacinda Ardern.
OBITUARY
Nguyen Phu Trong, Former President of Vietnam & Chief of Communist Party, Passed Away
Nguyen Phu Trong, The General Secretary of Ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the former President of Viet Nam (2018-2021), passed away at the age 80 at a military hospital in Hanoi, Viet Nam.. He was born on 14th April 1944 in Hanoi.
- To Lam, President of Vietnam, was appointed the caretaker chief of CPV on 18th July 2024.
About Nguyen Phu Trong:
i.Nguyen Phu Trong, a Marxist-Lennist idealougue, was considered as the most powerful leader of Viet Nam.
ii.He started his political career in the 1960s, when he joined the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) at the age 22.
iii.During his long political career, he held various important positions, including head of the Party’s Organisation Commission and the Chairman of the National Assembly from 2006 to 2011.
iv.He held the post of CPV chief since 2011. He secured a 3rd term as party’s chief in 2021 after a rule which limited two terms as party chief was waived.
Note: In 2015, He became the first Vietnamese party leader to visit the United States of America (USA).
About Vietnam:
Capital- Hanoi
President- To Lam
Currency- Vietnamese Dong (VND)
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Chess Day 2024 – July 20
The United Nations (UN)’s World Chess Day, also known as International Chess Day, is annually observed across the globe on July 20 to celebrate Chess, one of the most ancient, intellectual and cultural games, which promotes fairness, inclusion and mutual respect.
- The day marks the foundation day of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs / International Chess Federation), which was established on 20th July 1924 in Paris, France.
- 20th July 2024 marks the centenary (100th) anniversary of the establishment of FIDE (FIDE100).
Background:
i.Under initiative of FIDE, July 20 has been observed as International Chess Day by chess players around the world since 1966.
ii.On 12th December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/74/22 and proclaimed 20th July of every year as the World Chess Day.
iii.The first-ever UN recognised World Chess Day was observed on 20th July 2020.
About the International Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)):
President – Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich (Russia)
Headquarters – Lausanne, Switzerland
Motto – ‘Gens una sumus’ (Latin – We are one Family)
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Launches ‘Shramik Basera‘ Scheme 
Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat has launched ‘Shramik Basera’ scheme, which aims to provide temporary accommodation to about 15,000 construction workers for a daily rent of Rs 5 per day.
- The ground-breaking ceremony for 17 dwelling structures to house the labourers in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Rajkot cities in the first phase was conducted.
- Patel also attended the ‘Khatamuhurt‘ (foundation stone-laying) event at Jagatpur in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Note: Patel also launched a portal for registration to avail the Shramik Basera scheme.
About Shramik Basera Scheme:
i.Aim: To bring about a ‘qualitative improvement’ in the standard of living of workers in the unorganised sector and construction workers by providing clean water, kitchen, electricity, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), toilets, street lights, security and sanitation.
ii.It will be free for the children of labourers upto 6 years.
iii.In addition to accommodation, food will be provided as part of the ‘Shramik Annapurna Yojana’, and other services including free health checks-ups will also be provided.
iv.This project with cost Rs 1,500 crore intends to benefit about 3 lakh construction workers over the next three years.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister (CM) – Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
Governor – Acharya Devvrat
Capital – Gandhinagar
Wildlife Sanctuaries – Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Sanctuary
UP Launched Upvan Yojna & Heritage Tree Adoption Scheme to Enhance Green Cover
The Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) launched two new schemes Upvan Yojna to improve the environment, groundwater levels, and reduce climate impact and the Heritage Tree Adoption Scheme to preserve the 948 heritage trees that are more than 100 years old.
About Upvan Yojna:
Under the Upvan Yojna, saplings and cuttings of tree are being provided by UP government for plantation in parks, along the road and other spaces right from cities to villages.
Budget:
i.An annual budget of Rs 70 crore has been allocated for the Upvan Yojna.
ii.The budget will be distributed among various urban bodies based on their needs
- Municipal corporations will receive between Rs 1.5 crore
- Municipalities will receive Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore
- Nagar Panchayats will receive Rs 50 Lakhs
About Heritage Tree Adoption Scheme:
i.As many as 28 species of trees that are more than 100 years old have been designated as “heritage trees”. These trees are spread over all the 12 districts of UP.
ii.Varanasi houses a maximum of 99 heritage trees followed by Prayagraj(53); Hardoi(37), Ghazipur(35) and Unnao(34).
Note:
- The heritage tree are trees related to the spiritual and freedom movement.
- The oldest tree in the list of heritage trees in the region is Parijat or Kalpataru located near Ulta Qila in Jhunsi which is 700 years old.
Virasat Vraksh Vatika:
i.Under the “Ped lagao-Ped bacho Jan Abhiyan-2024”, Virasat Vraksh Vatika will be established in 11 districts of UP. This aims to create awareness about the identified heritage trees among the residents.
ii.The gardens will be developed in Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly, Mathura, Sitapur, Chitrakoot, and Mirzapur.
iii.In each garden, a plant, twig, or branch propagated from a heritage tree will be planted.
iv.Around 8 hectares of land will be needed for this initiative.
About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister– Yogi Adityanath
Governor– Anandiben Patel
Wildlife Sanctuary– Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary
‘Hello Meghalaya’: Meghalaya become 2nd state to Launch its Own OTT Platform
On July 12 2024, Meghalaya Government launched its own Over-The-Top (OTT) platform ‘Hello Meghalaya’ at the Lariti International Center for Performing Arts and Culture, Shillong, Meghalaya to promote local filmmakers, musicians and content creators.
- It becomes the second state in India, after Kerala to launch an OTT platform which monetizes youth passion.
- The launch event also included a video teaser of Hello Meghalaya and the presentation of the Meghalaya Content Creators Award 2024.
i.This platform aims to engage the youth in productive activities and promote economic growth and it also provides content ranging from movies and short films to music videos.
ii.The filmmakers will receive up to Rs 5 lakh per film, with additional financing for regionally or internationally acclaimed films.
iii.The content creators will receive Rs 18,000 per month for maximum uploads. More funds will be offered based on the number of views they receive. It will also benefit short filmmakers and video creators.
iv.The government also plans to stream key live events in the app such as football matches of state leagues, music festivals, Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (MGMP) events etc.
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