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By admin: Dec. 28, 2022

Government owned WAPCOS ranked as top consulting firm by the Asian Development Bank

Tags: Reports National Economy/Finance

The Asian Development Bank(ADB) in its annual Procurement report 2022 has ranked the Government of India owned Water and Power Consultancy Services India Limited (WAPCOS) Company as the top Consulting Services Firm in Water and other Infrastructure Sectors.

In another report on its Members’ Fact Sheet - 2022 released by the ADB, WAPCOS figured amongst the top 3 Consultants from India involved in Consulting Services Contracts under ADB Loan, Grant and Technical Assistance Projects in Energy, Transport and Water & other Urban Infrastructure Sectors.  WAPCOS is the only Indian Public Sector to feature in the above categories.

The Manila, Philippines based Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank for Asia and Asia-Pacific region. It has 68 member countries and it is headed by Masatsugu Asakawa. It also releases the Asian development Outlook report.

WAPCOS 

It was established by the government of India in 1969 under the aegis of the Ministry of Water Resources to utilize India’s knowledge and expertise in the field of water resources by sharing and exporting technology to friendly developing nations.

In 1979 the name of the Company was changed from “Water and Power Development Consultancy Services (India) Limited” to “Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited.”

Apart from India, the Company has successfully completed/on-going consultancy assignments in more than 51 Countries covering Asia, Africa, CIS, Pacific Islands and South America.

Chairman cum Managing Director: Rajni Kant Aggrawal 

Headquarters: New Delhi 

President Murmu lays foundation stone for PRASHAD project in Bhadrachalam and at Rudreswara Temple (Ramappa), in Telangana

Tags: place in news Person in news State News

The President of India Droupadi Murmu, laid the foundation stone for the Bhadrachalam Group of Temple’s project and the Rudreswara (Ramappa) Temple’ project in Telangana on 28 December 2022 to be developed under the Union Tourism ministry’s PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme.

The PRASHAD scheme was launched by the Union Tourism Ministry in 2014-15 to provide assistance to the states for the integrated infrastructure development of pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations in the country.

Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’

The Bhadrachalam Group of Temples, Sri Seetha Ramchandra Swamyvari Devasthanam, is situated in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District of the state of Telangana. It is said to be 350 years old and is associated with Lord Rama with his wife Goddess Sita and brother Lakshmana.

The project has been approved by the Ministry of Tourism at an estimated cost of Rs 41.38 Crores.

‘Development of Pilgrimage and Heritage Infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage Site at Rudreshwara Temple (Ramappa)’

The project has been approved by the Ministry of Tourism at an estimated cost of Rs 62 Crores.

The Ramappa temple which is located in the Mulugu district of Telangana is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built in 1213 AD by the Kakatiya rulers and has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2021.  

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to visit Cyprus, Austria from December 29 to 3 January

Tags: Person in news International News

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the Republic of Cyprus and Austria from December 29 to 3 January 2023.

Minister S.Jaishankar will be in the Republic of Cyprus from December 29 to December 31, 2022. This year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Cyprus.

During his visit, Jaishankar will meet Cyprus foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides. He will also address the Cyprus business and investment community and interact with the Indian diaspora.

Jaishankar visit to Austria 

In Austria, the External affairs minister will meet Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg. This will be the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in the last 27 years. 2023 marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Austria. 

S.Jaishankar will also meet the foreign ministers of Austria, Czech Republic foreign minister Jan Lipavský and Slovakia foreign minister Rastislav Káčer who will be there in the Austrian capital Vienna for the Slavkov format meeting. 

Slavkov is a place in the Czech Republic.  The Slavkov format was created in 2015. It is a cooperation format between Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. 

During his visit, Jaishankar will call on Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. He will also meet Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Republic of Cyprus 

It is an island European country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

It gained its Independence from Britain in 1960. The country has a majority population which are of Greece descent while the minority population are of Turkish origin.

Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and created a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. Except Turkey no country recognises Turkish Cyprus. 

 India also recognises the Cyprus government.

Capital: Nicosia 

Currency: Euro 

President: Nicos Anastasiades 

1.53 lakh people died in 4.12 lakh road accidents in 2021: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Report

Tags: Reports National

According to a report released by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 28 December 2022 a  total of 4,12,432 road accidents occurred in the 2021 calendar year which claimed 1,53,972 lives while 3,84,448 people were  injured.

The report titled 'Road accidents in India — 2021', said major indicators related to accidents have performed better in 2021 when compared to 2019.

According to the report, "Road accidents decreased by 8.1 percent and injuries decreased by 14.8 percent in 2021 compared to 2019. Fatalities, however, on account of road accidents increased by 1.9 percent in 2021 corresponding to the same period in 2019,”

Not wearing seat belt and helmet a reason for road fatalities 

• According to the report a total of 16,397 persons were killed in road accidents in 2021 due to not wearing seat belt, of which 8,438 were drivers and remaining 7,959 were passengers.
• A total of 46,593 persons were killed in road accidents due to not wearing a helmet, of which 32,877 were drivers and 13,716 were passengers.
• According to the report, not wearing a helmet caused injuries to 93,763 persons and not wearing seat belts caused injuries to 39,231 persons during 2021.
• Not using safety devices such as helmet and seat belt does not cause accidents but are critical for averting fatal and grievous injuries in the event of road accidents.
• Although not wearing a seat belt by passengers sitting in the rear seats attracts a fine of Rs 1,000 under Rule 138 (3) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), most people are either unaware of this mandatory rule or just ignore it.

The country saw an unprecedented decrease in accidents, fatalities, and injuries. This was due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant stringent nationwide lockdown particularly during March-April, 2020 followed by gradual unlocking and phasing out of the containment measures, it said.

The report is based on the data/information received from police departments of states/Union Territories collected on a calendar year basis in standardized formats as provided by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) under the Asia Pacific Road Accident Data (APRAD) base project. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways: Nitin Gadkari 

IOCL to help in the TB elimination effort of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Tags: National Economy/Finance Science and Technology State News

The government of India owned  Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central TB Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to undertake an intensified TB elimination project.  This effort of the IOCL is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. 

The MoU was signed in presence of Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on 28 December 2022.

According to the World Health Organisation 26% of Tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world in 2020 was reported from India. Within India Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh share the highest burden of TB cases among large states in India.  The Indian Government has set a target to eliminate TB in India by 2025.

Indian Oil has emerged as the first corporate to supplement state efforts in Active Case Finding campaign (ACF) by investing close to Rs. 64 crore in all 75 districts of UP, covering approximately 10% of its population once a year for three years. 

Indian Oil will also introduce handheld X Ray Units, Mobile Medical Vans, equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic technology in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. This would aid diagnosis of TB in rural areas and hard-to-reach communities leading to improved early case detection and thereby ensuring early treatment.  

Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certain public or private sector companies have to spend a minimum 2% of the average net profits made during the 3 immediately preceding financial years on certain sectors identified by the government...

Every year March 24 is observed as World Tuberculosis Day in the world. 

Arshdeep Singh, Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh of India nominated for the ICC emerging cricketer of the year 2022 men's and women's category respectively

Tags: Sports Person in news

Indian Arshdeep Singh has been included in the men’s and Yastika Bhatia  and Renuka Singh in the women’s section of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC)  emerging player of the year 2022 award nominee list.  

The nominee list was announced by the ICC on 28 December 2022.

ICC emerging Men’s player of the year award 2022 nominee 

The ICC emerging Men’s player of the year award 2022 nominee includes Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh of India, South African fast bowler Marco Jansen, Afghanistan’s batsman Ibrahim Zardan and New Zealand’s batsman Finn Allen. 

Arshdeep Singh who plays for Punjab Kings team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) made his international debut for India in the T-20s and One Day International (ODI) in 2022. The fast-bowler played 21 T20Is for India, taking 33 wickets at an economy of 8.17.

ICC women’s player of the year award 2022 nominee 

Indian fast bowler Renuka Singh and Batter Yastika Bhatia, England batter Alice Capsy and Australian bowler Darcie Brown have been included by the ICC in its emerging women player of the year award 2022.

Last year Janneman Malan of South Africa and Sanna Mir of Pakistan were declared the ICC men’s and women’s player of the year award 2021 respectively. 

International Cricket Council (ICC)

It is an international body which governs the men’s and women’s international cricket.

It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 and was later converted into the International Cricket Conference in 1965.

In 1987 it was renamed as the International Cricket Council.

Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay of New Zealand 

 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICC: Geoff Allardice of Australia

First International Beach Festival in Kerala

Tags: Festivals

The 'Spice Coast' in the far north of Kerala, popularly known as North Malabar, is celebrating myriad colours and the 'Bekal International Beach Festival' from 24 December.

Important facts

• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the 10-day first International Beach Festival.

• The festival reflects the entirety and essence of the cultural and artistic uniqueness of the state.

• It showcases the country's rich cultural diversity and magnificence in the majestic Bekal Beach Park.

• Around five lakh people from all over the world enjoy this festival at three places of Chandragiri, Tejaswini and Payaswini.

• The festival reflects a cross-section of culture and the unique identity of the land.

• More than 1,000 international, national and local artists performed at the Beach Festival.

Bekal International Beach festival 

• It is organised by Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council, Kudumbashree, Asmi Holidays, and the local self-government bodies in the district.

RBI releases web publication entitled ‘Statistical Tables relating to Banks in India: 2021-22’

Tags: Economy/Finance Books and Authors National News

The Reserve Bank released its web publication entitled ‘Statistical Tables relating to Banks in India: 2021-22’ covering the activities of the Indian banking sector on 27 December.

Important facts

• The publication presents entity-wise information on major items of liabilities and assets along with their maturity profile, income and expenses, select financial ratios, number of employees, and details of priority sector advances for scheduled commercial banks excluding regional rural banks.

• In addition, capital-to-risk-weighted asset ratios, non-performing assets, exposure to sensitive sectors, contingent liabilities, and unclaimed deposits are included. 

• State-wise distribution of consolidated balance sheet of rural cooperative banks are also presented.

• The publication can be accessed on the RBI website through the link ‘Time Series Publications’ under the Database on Indian Economy.

RBI approves Baskar Babu’s re-appointment as Suryoday Bank’s Chief for 3 years

Tags: Person in news

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the re-appointment of Baskar Babu Ramachandran as MD & CEO of Suryoday Small Finance Bank for three years with effect from January 23, 2023.

Important facts

• Prior to co-founding Suryoday Micro Finance Pvt Ltd, he held various positions with various companies including GE Capital Transportation Financial Services Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd.

• Suryoday Small Finance Bank (Suryoday SFB) is a scheduled commercial bank.

• The Bank was originally incorporated as Suryoday Micro Finance Pvt Ltd at Chennai in 2008 and subsequently got converted into a public limited company as Suryoday Micro Finance Ltd in 2015.

• The SFB commenced its business with effect from January 23, 2017.

• The bank has a wide presence across 13 states and UTs across India through its 565 banking outlets, with a strong presence in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

• The bank reported a net profit of Rs 13 crore in Q2 FY23 as against a net loss of Rs 1.92 crore in Q2 FY22. 

• Total income rose 14.1% year on year to Rs 305.70 crore in Q2 FY23.

Maharashtra became the first state in the country to pass the Lokayukta Bill

Tags: State News

The Maharashtra Assembly passed the Lokayukta Bill 2022 on December 28, which brings the chief minister and council of ministers under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman. It is the first state in the country to do so.

Important facts

• The Bill was passed without any discussion as the opposition walked out of the House over the alleged scam in the teacher's entrance examination.

• Cabinet minister Deepak Kesarkar introduced the bill, which seeks to bring the chief minister and the cabinet under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman.

Key provisions of the Bill

• As per the provision of the Bill, the Lokayukta will have to take the approval of the Legislative Assembly before initiating any inquiry against the Chief Minister.

• Such a proposal would require the approval of at least two-thirds of the total members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

• The bill also states that Lokayukta will not investigate cases related to allegations of corruption against the chief minister relating to internal security or public order.

• Any such inquiry shall be kept confidential and if the Lokayukta comes to the conclusion that the complaint deserves to be dismissed, the records of the inquiry shall not be published or made available to anyone.

• The Lokayukta shall have a Chairperson, who shall be a present or former Chief Justice of a High Court.

• Apart from this, there will be a judge of the Supreme Court or Bombay High Court.

• The Lokayukta shall have a maximum of four members, of whom two shall be from the judiciary.

Selection committee for the appointment of the Lokayukta Chairperson and Members 

• It will consist of the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker of the Legislative Council, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and the Council, and a judge nominated by the Chief Justice or Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

• No appointment of Lokayukta chairman or member will be invalid in the absence of anyone in the selection committee.

CM of Maharashtra - Eknath Shinde

Governor of Maharashtra - Bhagat Singh Koshyari

The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-22 jointly won by Sudeep Sen and Shobhana Kumar

Tags: Awards

The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-22 has been jointly won by Sudeep Sen for his genre and formbender Anthropocene : Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation (Pippa Rann Books & Media, 2021) and Shobhana Kumar for her haibun collection 'A Sky Full of Bucket Lists' (Red River, 2021).

Important facts

• The Tagore Award for Social Achievement was given to Sanjay K. Roy, the producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

• The winners were presented with $10,000 and a statue of Rabindranath Tagore at the India International Center on 26 December.

• Sudip Sen won the award for his remarkable work in 'Anthropocene: Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation', a collection of poetry, prose, creative non-fiction and photography.

• His poems on the pandemic point to the healing and sensitivity that still exist as human qualities.

• Shobhana Kumar won the Tagore Prize for her outstanding work in A Sky Full of Bucket Lists, a collection of poems in the Japanese haibun style.

• Haibun is a story or narration based on experience in which one's own sensibilities are threaded.

• It is a contemporary literary form born in Japan combining prose and haiku.

About Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize

• The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Award was instituted in 2018 to annually recognize literary and social achievements.

• In 2020, Raj Kamal Jha, editor-in-chief, The Indian Express, won the award for The City and the Sea (2019, Penguin Books), and in 2019, it was awarded posthumously to Kabir for One Hundred Poems of Kabir.

India, Japan to conduct first-ever air combat exercise ‘Veer Guardian 23'

Tags: Defence

India and Japan will conduct their first bilateral combat air exercise 'Veer Guardian 23' for 10 days in Japan in January 2023.

Important facts

• The exercise will be conducted from January 16 to January 26. The exercise will be conducted at Hyakuri Air Base north-west of Tokyo.

• Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will conduct bilateral combat training with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• The aim of the exercise is to promote mutual understanding and strengthen defence cooperation between the Air Forces.

• The IAF will field its Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft from a squadron under the Western Air Command.

• 150 IAF crew will fly in IAF's C-17 transport aircraft.

• On their journey from India to Japan, the fighter jets will be refuelled mid-air using IL-78 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

• Japan will deploy its F-2 jets which are derivatives of America's F-16 aircraft.

• It will also launch the F-15, which is also used by America.

Other defence exercises between India and Japan

• JIMEX (naval), 

• SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)

• Dharma Guardian (Army)

• Milan Exercise (Indian Navy)

• Malabar exercise (Naval Exercise) - USA, Japan and Australia

President inaugurates Srisailam Temple Development Project and a Tourism Facilitation Center in Andhra Pradesh

Tags: State News

President Draupadi Murmu on December 27 inaugurated Srisailam temple development project and a tourism facilitation center under the scheme 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)' at Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Important facts

• The project has been sanctioned and executed under the PRASAD scheme.

• The project "Development of Srisailam Temple in the State of Andhra Pradesh" has been completed at a cost of Rs.43.08 crore. The project is 100 percent funded by the Ministry of Tourism.

• The components executed in the project include amphitheatre, illumination and sound and light show, digital intervention, tourist facilitation centre, parking area, changing rooms, toilet complex, souvenir shops, food court, ATM and banking facility.

• These interventions are aimed at making Srisailam Temple a world-class pilgrimage and tourist destination by providing state-of-the-art facilities for the visitors.

About PRASAD scheme

• The scheme was launched in the year 2014-2015, It comes under the Ministry of Tourism. 

• The scheme focuses on the development and identification of pilgrimage sites across India to enrich the religious tourism scene.

• Under this scheme, several religious places like Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parashuram Kund (Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar), etc. have been identified for development.

• The scheme aims to harness pilgrimage tourism to its multiplier effect and have a direct impact on employment generation and economic growth.

About Srisailam Temple

• Mallikarjuna Temple or Srisailam Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva. It is located at Srisailam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

• It is considered as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Here Parvati is worshipped as "Mallika" and Shiva is worshipped as "Arjuna", represented by a lingam.

• According to the epigraphical evidence of the Satavahana dynasty, this temple has been in existence since the 2nd century.

Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru to be G20 Science working group’s secretariat

Tags: Science and Technology National News

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, will function as the secretariat for Science 20 (S20), a working group set up as part of the G20 which will be presided over by India in 2023.

Important facts

• The theme of the S20 in 2023 is ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’.

• This broad issue will be discussed throughout the year in different regions of India.

• Three issues will be discussed at the discussions in Agartala, Lakshadweep, and Bhopal: universal holistic health, clean energy for a greener future, and bridging science and society. 

• Apart from the discussions, there will be an inaugural conference in Puducherry and a summit in Coimbatore.

About Science 20 (S20)

• Established in 2017, the Science 20 (S20) is one of the newest groupings of the G20.

• In line with the G20, it has a non-permanent rotating secretariat and operates more like a forum rather than an organisation.

• The main objective of the S20 group is to present consensus-based recommendations for selected topics of interest to policy makers.

• These science-driven recommendations are developed through task forces consisting of international experts.

• A Sherpa is appointed to support and guide the task forces.

• Each task force focuses on a broad topic that is relevant to scientists, policy makers, and society alike.

• The S20 summit is held annually, usually before the respective G20 summit.

'Bomb cyclone' hits US, more than 200 million people affected

Tags: International News

Recently a powerful "Bomb Cyclone" has hit the United States, affecting at least 200 million people. At least 64 people have died.

Important facts

• Temperatures are predicted to plunge -57 degrees Celsius in certain locations due to the largest winter storm to hit the country in decades.

• Temperatures dropped across the United States and heavy snow caused power outages in cities, thousands of flights were cancelled and people were stuck in their homes without food.

• New York's Erie County, which includes Buffalo, is one of the areas most affected by the winter storm, which stretches from the Canadian to the Mexican border.

What is a 'Bomb Cyclone'?

• Bomb cyclone is used by meteorologists to denote a mid-latitude cyclone that rapidly intensifies.

• It is a giant winter storm that hits the coast and brings strong winds, flooding, snow and ice.

• It consists of a combination of rapidly decreasing pressure and extreme cold.

• This particular storm is the most explosive ever seen on the East Coast.

• It is called a bomb cyclone because in this the storm strengthens explosively while the pressure subsides.

Formation of 'Bomb Cyclone'

• Storms form when a mass of low pressure air (warm air mass) meets a high pressure mass (cold air mass).

• The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

• This occurs when a mid-latitude cyclone intensifies rapidly, dropping at least 24 millibars (millibar measures atmospheric pressure) in 24 hours.

• This rapidly increases the pressure difference, or gradient, between the two air masses, causing the winds to be stronger.

Government recognises e-sports as part of multisports events

Tags: Sports Sports News

The Government of India has officially recognised ‘E-Sports’ (Electronic Sports) as a part of Multi-sports events on 27th December.

Important facts

• E-sports will be handled by the Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• This decision was taken by President Draupadi Murmu, using the powers given in provision 3 of Article 77 of the Constitution, after changing the rules related to e-sports.

• It is noteworthy that since the inclusion of e-sports as a demonstration sport in the Jakarta Asian Games 2018, there has been a demand to make it a part of the multi-sport event.

• The International Olympic Committee is also promoting e-sports and in this exercise, the first Olympic e-sports week will also be celebrated in Singapore in June 2023.

• Next year's Asian Games in China will see the debut of e-sports.

• The Indian Esports Industry has been fighting for E-sports not to be clubbed under the umbrella term “Gaming”.

What is E-sports?

• e-sports or “electronic sports,” transforms online gaming into a spectator sport. 

• The experience is similar to watching a professional sporting event, with spectators watching video gamers compete against each other in a virtual environment.

• The e-sports Industry has maintained that e-sports is a competitive sport where e-sports athletes use their physical and mental abilities to compete in certain genres of video games in a virtual, electronic environment.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launches guidelines for City Finance Rankings and City Beauty Competition

Tags: National News

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on 28th December launched the guidelines for City Finance Rankings and City Beauty Competition in New Delhi.

Important facts

• The City Finance Ranking aims to evaluate, recognize and reward cities based on their current financial status and improvements in financial performance over time.

• The City Beauty Competition guidelines aim to encourage and recognize the transformative efforts of wards and cities to create beautiful, innovative and inclusive public spaces.

• All cities and wards can participate in the City Beauty Competition.

• These initiatives will take the journey of urban rejuvenation of the country to another level.

• The government has launched several schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation Mission which transformed the country.