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By admin: Dec. 27, 2022

Zeliangrong United Front signs a peace agreement with Central and Manipur government

Tags: National State News

The government of India and the Manipur government have signed a Cessation of Operation Agreement with an insurgent group of Manipur, Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), in New Delhi on 27 December 2022.

The agreement was signed by senior officers of the Union Home Ministry, the Manipur government, and the representatives of ZUF in the presence of State Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

Under the agreement the ZUF has agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land. The agreement provides for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres of ZUF. A Joint Monitoring Group will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules.

Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF)

The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) was established in 2011. It is a Naga group which is active in Manipur. The group claims its objective is to safeguard the interest of 'Zeliangrong Naga tribes in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland. It aimed to create a 'Zeliangrong’ state within the Indian Union comprising the Zeliangrong Naga tribe’s area in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

Some prominent Insurgent groups active in Manipur 

• Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) 
• United National Liberation Front (UNLF),
• People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 
• People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) 
• National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K) 
• Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF)
• Kuki National Front (KNF)
• Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF)

ADB to provide $125 million loan to improve Urban Services in Tamil Nadu

Tags: Economy/Finance State News

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide USD 125 million loan to India to develop climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.

In 2018 ADB agreed to provide USD 500 million loan to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in Tamilnadu. The loan amount was to be provided in three tranches. Under the third tranche $125 million will be provided and the amount will be used to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage infrastructure in Coimbatore, Madurai and Thoothukudi.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

It is a regional multilateral financial institution which focuses on the countries of Asia and Pacific region.

At present it has 68 members—of which 49 members are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.

President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa 

Headquarters: Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines 

Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak inaugurates ‘E-Sushrut’ hospital management information system in UP medical colleges

Tags: State News

The Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and Minister of State for Medical Education Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh inaugurated the ‘E-Sushrut’ Hospital Management Information System on 26 December 2022.

In the first phase the ‘E-Sushrut’ hospital management information system in medical colleges has been started in 22 medical colleges of the state. 

The software will help in the patient registration, admission, discharge, ambulance, food, medicines, and make available the details of doctors online.  Through this system the availability of doctors in the hospital can also be easily ascertained and patients will be able to pay the fee through online and net banking.

Hospital management information system has been implemented in Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Agra, Meerut, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Science Saifai, GIMS Greater Noida, Lohia Institute, Sanjay Gandhi PGI, and Mirzapur Medical College.

Power ministry, DRDO ink pact to install early warning systems for power stations

Tags: National News

On 27 December the Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the implementation of an early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations.

Important facts

• Power Secretary Alok Kumar and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat signed the MoU in New Delhi.

• It aims to jointly work towards developing appropriate mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other land hazards.

• DRDO's expertise will also be utilized in developing a comprehensive early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations in hilly areas.

• With the comprehensive understanding developed through this MoU, separate and specific assignments will be drawn up between DRDO and the respective project developers.

• Under the leadership of Union Power Minister RK Singh, the Ministry of Power has taken the initiative to implement Early Warning System (EWS) in hydro power projects especially located in the upper reaches of hilly areas.

Early Warning System (EWS)

• It is an adaptive measure to climate change, which uses integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for dangerous climate-related events.

• A successful EWS saves lives and jobs, land and infrastructure and provides long-term sustainability.

• This will aid in planning in the public sector, saving money in the long run and protecting economies.

Hasmukh Adhia appointed advisor to the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel

Tags: Person in news

Former finance secretary, Government of India Hasmukh Adhia and former retired bureaucrat SS Rathore has been appointed as the Chief advisor and advisor respectively to the chief minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel on 27 December 2022. SS Rathore is a former secretary of the roads and buildings department of the Gujarat government.

According to the Gujarat government order the tenure of the two new posts will last until the present chief minister is in office or until further orders.

Hasmukh Adia is a former Gujarat-cadre IAS officer. He was made the secretary in the Department of Financial Services, Union Ministry of Finance when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014 .Adhia retired from service in November 2018. 

At present, he is the non-executive chairman of the Bank of Baroda and chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat. He is also the vice chairman of the boards of Pandit Deendayal Energy University and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI), and a member of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Maharashtra Assembly passes resolution to 'legally pursue' inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking Karnataka villages into Maharashtra

Tags: State News

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 27 December 2022 unanimously passed a resolution to "legally pursue" inclusion of 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka into Maharashtra. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde. 

He said that the state government will legally pursue in the Supreme Court the case to include inch and inch of land of the 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka," said the resolution passed in the Maharashtra Assembly.

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly had on 22 December 2022 unanimously passed a resolution on border row with Maharashtra, resolving to protect the state's interests and not to cede an inch of land to its neighbour Maharashtra.

Border Dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra

The genesis of the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra lies in the reorganisation of states in India. 

Mysore which was later renamed as Karnataka was formed under the State Reorganisation act 1956 on 1 November 1956. 

Maharashtra which was known as Bombay state in 1956 claimed the northwestern district of Karnataka, Belagavi as it was dominated by Marathi speaking people. 

An organization Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti was formed in Belagavi which led a violent agitation to merge Belagavi with Maharashtra.

Centre set up Mahajan Commission 

In October 1966 the central government set up a commission chaired by the retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Meharchand Mahajan on the border dispute between the two states. The commission submitted its report in August 1967, where it recommended merging 264 towns and villages of Karnataka (including Nippani, Nandgad and Khanapur) with Maharashtra, and 247 villages of Maharashtra (including South Solapur and Akkalkot) with Karnataka. 

However there was no agreement between the two states on the Mahajan commission recommendation.

Why dispute erupts in winter  

The border issues almost always flare up in winter. To assert its claim on the region, Karnataka has built its State legislative Assembly (Suvarna Vidhana Soudha) in Belagavi. The winter session of the Karnataka assembly is always held in winter in Belagavi and it is always opposed by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti. The pro Kannada activist also opposes the demand of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti activities leading to clashes between the two.

Issue in the Supreme Court 

Maharashtra approached the Supreme Court in 2004, challenging the State Reorganisation Act. It demanded 865 villages and towns from five Karnataka districts to be merged with the state. The five districts are Belagavi, Karwar, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi and Bidar. However the Supreme Court is yet to decide on the maintainability of the Maharashtra petition.

Chief Minister of Karnataka: Basavaraj Bommai

NTPC inks pact with Italy based firm for green methanol production

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

India's largest power generation company 'National Thermal Power Corporation Limited' (NTPC) has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Technimont Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Italy-based Maire Tecnimont Group, on 26 December.

Important facts

• The objective of this MoU is to jointly evaluate and explore the possibility of developing a commercial scale green methanol production facility at NTPC's project in India.

• This green methanol project involves capturing carbon from NTPC's power plants and converting it into green fuel.

• This agreement will make a significant contribution to the energy transformation in India.

Green Methanol

• Green methanol has a wide range of applications. It also includes use as a base material for chemical industries, storage of renewable electricity and as a transportation fuel.

• It is also considered as a substitute fuel for maritime fuel applications.

• The pilot scale green methanol project is in line with NTPC's commitment towards sustainability and renewable energy.

About NTPC

• The NTPC which was earlier known as National Thermal Power Corporation of India is owned by the Government of India. It was set up in 1975.

• The Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, with an installed capacity of 4,760MW, is currently the biggest thermal power plant in India. 

• It is a coal-based power plant owned and operated by NTPC.

• The total installed commercial capacity of the company was 69454 MW before the JPL deal.

• Headquarters: New Delhi

• Chairman and Managing Director: Gurdeep Singh

Home Ministry approves the name change of two places in Uttar Pradesh

Tags: place in news State News

The Union Home Ministry on 27 December 2022 gave its consent to change the names of two places in Uttar Pradesh following recommendations from the state government.

The 'no-objection' certificates were issued by the ministry for changing the name of municipal council 'Mundera Baazar' in Gorakhpur district to 'Chauri-Chaura' and that of 'Telia Afghan' village in Deoria district to 'Telia Shukla'.

Procedure to change the name of the cities in a state 

• Under Article 3 of the constitution Parliament has the power to change the name of a state. 
• However there is no mention of procedure to be followed in case of change in the name of cites of a state in the constitution.
• The procedure which is followed is based on the guidelines issued in 1953 by the Union Home Ministry to the state governments.
• Under these guidelines the state government which wants to change the name of cities has to send the proposal to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Home Affairs ministry consults other central agencies like Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India, and Registrar General of India.
•  After the approval from the agencies, the Home Ministry issues no objection certificate to the concerned state government. 
• Only then the state government can change the name of the cities.

 Union Minster for Home Affairs : Amit Shah 

Santosh Kumar Yadav appointed as the chairman of NHAI

Tags: Person in news

Government of India has appointed senior IAS officer Santosh Kumar Yadav as the chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 26 December 2022.

 A 1995-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Santosh Yadav is currently additional secretary in the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

Government has also appointed Ganji Kamala V Rao as the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Subhasish Panda, a 1997-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Delhi Development Authority (DDA) vice chairman.

National Highways Authority of India 

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constituted by the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways.

It comes under the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways.

Headquarters: New Delhi 

Indian Bank launches its flagship programme 'MSME Prerana 'in Rajasthan

Tags: Economy/Finance State News

Government of India owned Public Sector Bank, Indian Bank has launched its flagship business mentoring program for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entrepreneurs – ‘MSME Prerana’ – in the state of Rajasthan.

“MSME Prerana”, is a first-of-its-kind initiative for the   MSME sector in the country by any bank. 

It aims at empowering MSME Entrepreneurs through skill development and capacity building training in their local languages, assisting them in acquiring necessary financial and managerial skills, capacity to handle crisis in business, understanding of dynamics of credit rating and risk management. 

Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

MSMEs are regulated under the 'Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprises Development Act, 2006'. The law had defined MSME in India.

The enterprises or businesses which are engaged in either manufacturing or service sector are defined as Micro Small or Medium enterprises on the basis of their turnover (sales) and investment in plant and machineries.

Micro enterprises    

Enterprises with an annual turnover of less than Rs 5 crore and the maximum investment in plant and machinery or equipment shall not be more than one crore rupees.

Small Enterprise:

The enterprises where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed ten crore rupees and turnover does not exceed fifty crore rupees;

Medium Enterprise:

The enterprises where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does exceed fifty crore rupees and turnover does not exceed two hundred and fifty crore rupees.

Indian Bank 

It is a public sector bank owned by the government of India. 

The Indian bank was set up in 1907 as a private sector bank and it was nationalized by the government of India in 1969. 

On 1 April 2020 Allahabad bank was merged with Indian Bank. 

Bank’s Headquarters: Chennai 

MD and CEO of Indian Bank: Shanti Lal Jain 

Tagline of the bank: Your own Bank 

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

Tags: Important Days

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed every year on December 27.

Important facts

• The purpose of this day is to create awareness about the pandemic.

• The day aims to facilitate exchange of information, dissemination of scientific knowledge and ensure exchange of best practices at the international level.

• This will help prevent pandemics like COVID-19 in future as it has had a devastating impact on human lives.

Background of the day

• A resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 7, 2020 declared December 27 as the International Day for Pandemic Preparedness.

• The coronavirus outbreak in China began in late 2019. As the infection rate started rising and the number of infected people increased, many parts of the city were sealed.

• In light of this, the first International Day of Pandemic Preparedness was observed on December 27, 2020.

• The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to emphasize pandemic prevention, preparedness and cooperation.

Jio launches 5G services in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 6,500 crore

Tags: State News

Reliance Jio has launched its 5G services in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 6,500 crore, starting with the cities of Tirumala, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur.

Important facts

• Andhra Pradesh Information and Technology Minister Gudivada Amarnath and Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy launched the Jio True 5G and Jio True 5G Powered wi-fi services on 26th December.

• Jio 5G services will be available throughout the state by the end of next year.

• On December 26, Jio users in these cities were invited for the Jio Welcome Offer.

• In addition to its existing investment of Rs 26,000 crore, Jio has invested over Rs 6,500 crore for the deployment of 5G network in Andhra Pradesh, showing its commitment towards the development of the state.

5G services in other states 

• Since the launch of 5G services on October 1, the telecom operators have expanded their 5G coverage in 50 Indian cities (till December 7).

• Names of cities with Airtel 5G - Delhi, Siliguri, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chennai, Gurugram, Panipat, Guwahati and Patna.

• Name of cities with Jio 5G - Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Varanasi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Nathdwara, Pune, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and in all 33-district headquarters of Gujarat.

What is 5G technology?

• The fifth generation mobile network is called 5G.

• The 5G network will operate in the millimeter-wave spectrum (30-300 GHz) which can send huge amounts of data at very high speeds.

• It is the newest upgrade in Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.

• Internet speeds in the high-band spectrum of 5G have been tested to exceed 20 Gbps (gigabit per second).

Former GM of Central Railway Anil Kumar Lahoti appointed as Chairman of Railway Board

Tags: Person in news

Anil Kumar Lahoti has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Railway Board on 26th December. 

Important facts

• Lahoti, former general manager of Central Railway, was appointed as member (infrastructure) of the board a week ago, and will take over the chairmanship from Vinay Kumar Tripathi on January 1, 2023.

• He is a 1984 batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer with a Master of Engineering (Structures) from IIT Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee). 

• He joined Central Railway and worked in various positions from 1988 to 2001 in Nagpur, Jabalpur (now in West Central Railway), Bhusaval Division and Central Railway Headquarters.

• He has also worked as Officer on Special Duty to Member Engineering, Railway Board, Chief Engineer (Construction), Northern Railway, Executive Director (Track Machines), Railway Board and Principal Chief Engineer of North Central Railway.

• He has played a vital role in planning for developing New Delhi station as a world-class station.

• Lahoti was appointed as the General Manager of Central Railway in July 2021, prior to which he held several key positions in Zonal Railways and Railway Board in Delhi.

Scientists freeze Great Barrier Reef coral in world-first trial

Tags: Science and Technology

Scientists working on Australia's Great Barrier Reef have successfully tested a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae, in a bid to restore the reef threatened by climate change.

Important facts

• Cryogenically frozen coral can be stored and later reintroduced into the wild but the process requires sophisticated equipment including lasers.

• A new lightweight "Cryomesh" could be manufactured more cheaply and better protect corals, according to scientists.

• Cryomesh is a specially fabricated mesh used as a substrate in cryopreservation. The mesh technology will help store coral larvae at -196°C (-320.8°F).

• Scientists are conducting scientific research to protect coral reefs as rising ocean temperatures are destabilising this fragile ecosystem.

• The Great Barrier Reef has experienced four bleaching events in the past seven years.

What are Coral reefs?

• Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on Earth.

• They play an important role in marine ecosystems and support habitats for flora and fauna in the ocean.

• Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony.

About Great Barrier Reef

• It extends for 1400 miles along the north-east coast of Queensland, Australia and is the world's most extensive and rich coral reef ecosystem.

• It is made up of more than 2,900 reefs and more than 900 islands.

• It is the largest single structure in the world made by living organisms.

• This reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

225 kilometre journey to save the ending forests in Rajasthan

Tags: Environment State News

A unique journey of 225 kilometres was taken out from remote villages and hamlets of western Rajasthan. It ended at Jaisalmer district headquarters last week. The purpose of the journey was to demand the protection of the Oran or the sacred groves.

Important facts

• The participants travelled 225 km with a pledge to preserve the sacred groves as a lifeline for the desert.

• This raised a strong demand for the protection of Oran or the sacred groves that are facing the threat of destruction.

• The Oran or sacred groves face the threat of destruction as their land is being allocated for renewable energy infrastructure and high-tension power lines.

• Great Indian Bustards have died during the last few years because of collisions with power lines.

About Oran or the sacred groves

• 'Orans’ are community forests that act as a store of biodiversity, enable effective water management and serve as a community based regeneration system.

• Oran has a rich diversity of traditional flora and fauna and water bodies and is considered sacred and protected by the local people.

• It also ensures sustainable extraction of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) by villagers, in the world’s oldest Aravali Mountain Range and in the Great Indian Desert of Rajasthan.

• Sacred groves have been a living expression of man's historical, cultural and emotional attachment to forests.

• Oran also forms the natural habitat for India's most critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard.

Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) Organises Two-Day Seminar on The Theme of “Civil Military Integration: The Way Forward”

Tags: Defence

Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), an independent New Delhi based think tank, is conducting a two-day Seminar on the theme of “Civil Military Integration: The Way Forward”, at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt. 

Important facts

• The seminar began with a discussion on the role of the military and bureaucracy in adopting a whole nation approach to deal with security challenges.

• General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defense Staff and General Manoj Pandey, Chief of Army Staff addressed the gathering at the commencement of the proceedings.

• During his address, the CDS highlighted the important role played by the Armed Forces as part of the 'whole of government' approach towards national security.

• He stressed that all defence initiatives should be aligned to derive mutual benefits from government schemes like Atmanirbharta, Vibrant Border Villages, Gati Shakti, National Logistics Policy to achieve higher defence preparedness.