Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar from 18th to 19th June 2024.
Key Highlights of PM’s Visit to UP:
PM addressed Kisan Samman Sammelan in UP
On 18th June 2024, PM Modi addressed the Kisan Samman Sammelan in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). This marked PM Modi’s 1st visit to his constituency, Varanasi, after being elected to the 18th Lok Sabha (Lower House) for a 3rd consecutive term.
- During the event, PM released the 17th instalment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) worth over Rs 20,000 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to around 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers.
Key People:
i.Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of UP, Anandiben Patel, Governor of UP, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, MoA&FW were present during the event.
ii.The event was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in partnership with the UP Government.
Key Points:
i.Under PM-KISAN Yojana, more than 11 crore eligible farmer families have received direct benefits of more than Rs 3.04 lakh crore.
- With the transfer of over Rs 20000 crore, the total disbursement under the scheme to Rs 3.24 lakh crore. Of this, around Rs 700 crores have been transferred to the families in Varanasi.
ii.PM highlighted the use of technology in the successful implementation of PM-KISAN Yojana. He also credited Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra which enabled more than 1 crore farmers to register themselves under PM-KISAN Yojana.
About PM-KISAN:
i.It is a central sector scheme launched in 2019 and is implemented by the MoA&FW. The scheme aims to augment the income of farmers by providing income support to all farmer families in India irrespective of their landholdings.
ii.Under this scheme, GoI will provide financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per annum to eligible farmer families in 3 equal instalments.
iii.GoI has allocated Rs 60,000 crore for FY25 (2024-25) in Interim Budget (2024-25).
PM Modi Grants Certificates to 30000 Women from SHGs as Krishi Sakhis:
During Kisan Samman Sammelan, PM Modi granted certificates to over 30,000 women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) as Krishi Sakhis under the Krishi Sakhi Convergence Program (KSCP).
About KSCP:
i.KSCP aims to bring transformation in rural India through the empowerment of rural women as Krishi Sakhi by imparting training and certification of Krishi Sakhis as Para-extension Workers.
ii.This certification course aligns with the objectives of the “Lakhpati Didi” Program.
iii.Krishi Sakhi is a dimension of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ program which aim is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis.
Key Highlights of PM Modi Visit to Bihar
PM Modi Inaugurated Nalanda University Campus in Rajgir, Bihar
On 19th June 2024, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of the Nalanda University near Rajgir, Bihar.
- The modern Nalanda University (NU) is located close to the site of the ancient ruins of Nalanda.
Key People: Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar; Prof. Aravind Panagariya, Chancellor of Nalanda University; Union Minister S.Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ambassadors from 17 countries were present during the event.
Background:
i.Nalanda University (NU) was established by the Indian Parliament through the Nalanda University Act, 2010.
ii.The Act formed basis for implementing the decisions arrived at the 2nd East Asia Summit (EAS) (Philippines, 2007) to establish the university as an “international for pursuit of intellectual, philosophical, historical and spiritual studies” and at the 4th East Asia Summit (Thailand, 2009).
Key Features:
i.The new NU campus spans over 455 acre of land and its design and architectural elements are inspired by the original monasteries and buildings at the ancient Nalanda Mahavira.
ii.It is a ‘Net-Zero Green Campus’ and includes various eco-friendly features such as: 100 acres of water bodies (Kamal Sagar ponds), water recycling plant etc. The campus is powered by on-grid solar plant.
iii.Currently, students from over 20 countries, including India, has enrolled in different courses at the NU.
PM Modi Visited Ruins of Nalanda Mahavira in Bihar
On 19th June 2024, PM Modi also visited the ancient ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara and planted a sapling of Bodhi tree in the NU campus brought from Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
- He was accompanied by Arvind Panagariya and Abhay Kumar Singh, Interim Vice-Chancellor of NU.
Key Points:
i.The Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara, spread over an area of 23 hectares, comprises remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from 3rd century BC. It was one of the earliest, largest and longest serving monastic cum scholastic establishment in India.
ii.It is considered as one among the first residential universities in the world.
iii.Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara were declared as a UN Heritage Site in 2016.
About Uttar Pradesh:
Chief Minister (CM)- Yogi Adityanath
Governor- Anandiben Patel
National Park- Dudhwa National Park,
Wildlife Sanctuaries- Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary
About Bihar:
Chief Minister (CM)- Nitish Kumar
Governor- Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
National Park- Valmiki National Park
