Current Affairs search results for tag: state-news

1. Uttarakhand set to introduce green cess on private vehicles from other states.

Tags: State News

Uttarakhand set to introduce green cess on private vehicles from other states.

Why in the news?

• In a proactive step towards environmental conservation, the Uttarakhand government is gearing up to impose a green cess on private vehicles entering the state from other regions.

Important Points:

• According to the state transport department, the proposed fee will range from Rs 20 to Rs 80, depending on the type of vehicle.
• As per the proposed rates, three-wheeler vehicles will incur a fee of Rs 20, four-wheelers Rs 40, and medium and heavy vehicles will be charged Rs 60 and Rs 80, respectively. 
• Notably, two-wheelers, electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, ambulances, and other essential service vehicles will be exempt from this charge.
• According to the Transport Department, the implementation of this initiative is expected by the end of this month or in January next year. 
• Currently, only commercial vehicles from other states are subjected to a green cess, which is utilized for road safety initiatives and pollution control measures.
• The Transport Department revealed, " The green cess collected from out-of-state commercial vehicles are directed towards projects aimed at improving road infrastructure and reducing vehicular emissions."
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2. Maize flour ‘Himbhog’ produced via natural farming to be launched by Himachal Pradesh.

Tags: State News

Maize flour ‘Himbhog’ produced via natural farming to be launched by Himachal Pradesh.

Why in the news?

• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu y said that the state government would soon introduce maize flour produced through natural farming under the brand name ‘Him Bhog.’

Key points:

• He said that more than 4,000 quintals of maize had been procured from 1,506 farmer families practising natural farming in the state, with the exception of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts. 
• The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was the first state in India to offer the highest minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and maize.
• “The government is providing Rs 40 per kg for wheat and Rs 30 per kg for maize produced through natural farming. 
• The government is promoting natural farming on 35,000 hectares, benefiting 1.98 lakh farmers.
• Sukhu said that free certification had been provided to over 1.5 lakh farmers and an additional 36,000 farmers were being connected with natural farming. 
• He said that the government was also focusing on linking agriculture with employment through phase-III of the Rajiv Gandhi Start-Up Yojana that had been started with a budget of Rs 680 crore.

About Maize:

• Maize, also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. 
• It was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. 
• Native Americans planted it alongside beans and squashes in the Three Sisters polyculture.

3. Community, individual rights accorded to tribal settlements in Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Tags: State News

Community, individual rights accorded to tribal settlements in Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Why in the news?

• Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati on Friday accorded community forest rights under theForest Rights Act, 2006, tothree tribal settlements in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).

About Anamalai Tiger Reserve:

• It is a protected area located at an altitude of 1400 m in theAnamalai Hills of Pollachi and Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu.
• It lies south of the Palakkad gap in the Southern Western Ghats. 
• It is surrounded by the Parambikulum Tiger Reserve on the east, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Eravikulum National Park on the southwestern side.
• The reserve is also surrounded by the Nenmara, Vazhachal, Malayattur, and Marayur reserved forests of Kerala.
• It was declared atiger reserve in the year 2007.

4. HUDCO has launched the "Uphaar milk program" Scheme in Chhattisgarh.

Tags: State News

HUDCO has launched the "Uphaar milk program" Scheme in Chhattisgarh.

Why in the news?

• Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO), a Navratna CPSE, has taken a pivotal step toward addressing child malnutrition by launching a Milk Scheme inChhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, and Mungeli districts.

Key points:

• The scheme was officially inaugurated on November 30, 2024, by Shri Tokhan Sahu, Honorable Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, at Government School Sendiri, where nutritious milk was distributed to students.
• The initiative will benefit approximately 8,000 students from 28 schools in Rajnandgaon, 43 schools in Bilaspur, and 27 schools in Mungeli for one year.
• Special focus has been given to tribal areas and girls’ schools to ensure maximum impact.
• As part of itsCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the scheme aims to enhance children’s nutrition and health.
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5. Uttar Pradesh declares Maha Kumbh area new district

Tags: State News

Uttar Pradesh declares Maha Kumbh area new district

Why in the news?

• The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday declared the Maha Kumbh area a new district ahead of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela. 

About new district:

• The new district will be known as Maha Kumbh Mela district. This will be 76th district of Uttar Pradesh.
• According to a notification, 66 villages of four tehsils – Sadar, Soraon, Phulpur and Karchana – and the entire parade area have been included in the new district which will remain till March 31, 2025.

About Maha Kumbh Mela:

• The Maha Kumbh Mela (festival of sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology. It is the world's largest public gathering and collective act of faith.
• Kumbh Mela or Kumbha Mela  is a major pilgrimage and festival in  Hinduism On 4 February 2019, Kumbh Mela witnessed the largest peaceful public gathering of humans ever recorded. 
• It is celebrated in a cycle of approximately 12 years, to celebrate every revolution Brihaspati ( Jupiter) completes, at four river-bank pilgrimage sites: Prayagraj(Ganges-Yamuna-Saraswati rivers confluence), Haridwar(Ganges), Nashik( Godavari), and Ujjain (Shipra). 
• The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters, but it is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education, religious discourses by saints, mass gatherings of monks, and entertainment.
• The seekers believe that bathing in these rivers is a means to  prayascitta (atonement, penance, restorative action) for past mistakes, and that it cleanses them of their sins.
• The festival is traditionally credited to the 8th-century Hindu philosopher and saint Adi Shankara, as a part of his efforts to start major Hindu gatherings for philosophical discussions and debates along with Hindu monasteries across the Indian subcontinent.

Objective of creating new district:

• The U.P. government’s decision aims to facilitate better organisation and governance during the significant religious events.

6. Handigodu disease

Tags: State News

Handigodu disease

Why in the news?

• Health and family welfare minister of Karnataka,Dinesh Gundu Rao directed the health department officials to undertake a scientific study of Handigodu disease and present a detailed report on its control measures.

About  Handigodu disease:

•  Handigodu disease, a rare genetic condition affecting the nervous system, leads to muscle weakness, joint deformities, and skeletal abnormalities. 
• The condition was initially discovered in 1978 in Handigodu village, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga district. 
• Statistical data indicates that between 1978 and 1985, approximately 205 cases were documented, with nearly 100 fatalities reported.
• The minister issued strict directives against unauthorised practitioners offering allopathic treatments, ordering the immediate closure of their clinics. 
• He additionally mandated free treatment and ambulance services at govt healthcare facilities. 
• New ambulances have been provided to340 health centres in the state. Special physiotherapy centres will be opened in all district hospitals in the state.

  

7. Gwalior houses India's first modern, self-sufficient gaushala

Tags: State News

Gwalior houses India's first modern, self-sufficient gaushala

Why in news?

• Gwalior houses India's first modern, self-sufficient gaushala with a state-of-the-art Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant.

About the The CBG plant:

• The CBG plant is Gwalior's largest cowshed, Adarsh Gaushala, located in Laltipara, Gwalior.
• The Gaushala has achieved a landmark feat with the establishment of India's first modern, self-sufficient gaushala that houses a state-of-the-art Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant.
• According to the district authority, this ambitious project spread over 5 acres, has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation worth Rs 31 crores.
• The plant will generate two tons of compressed Biogas daily from 100 tons of cattle dung.
•  Additionally, it produces 10-15 tons of dry bio-manure daily, a valuable by-product for organic farming. The plant is not only technologically advanced but also designed for long-term sustainability. 
• The CBG plant at Laltipara Gaushala stands as a model of successful collaboration between society and government, setting a world-class benchmark in sustainable development.
•  The plant produces 2-3 tons of Bio-CNG daily, providing a cleaner, eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels and helping reduce carbon emissions.

Significance:

• By utilizing cow dung for energy, it helps curb carbon emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, making a valuable contribution to climate change mitigation. 
• This initiative also creates employment opportunities for locals, boosting the economy while promoting skills in green energy and sustainable practices.
• Furthermore, local farmers will benefit directly from this project. With bio-manure readily available at affordable prices, farmers in nearby districts are encouraged to adopt organic farming practices.
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8. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched e-khata

Tags: State News

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched e-khata

Why in the news?

• The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched e-khata, a digitally-processed khata issuance system for the citizens of the State capital.

What is  e-khata?

• E-khata simply means electronically approved khata.
•  Under this, the property owners have to first download the draft of e-khata from www.bbmpeAasthi.karnataka.gov.in. 
• The draft of e-khata can be searched using the name of the property owner. After downloading the draft, the applicants should submit the required document. 
• The system then electronically gives approval for the property owners to secure final e-khata. So far, more than 6 lakh drafts have been downloaded by the property owners.

Significance:

• Transition to Digital Format: e-Khata replaces the outdated paper-based Khata system, allowing for easier tracking and management of property records for over 21 lakh Khatas under BBMP. The switch to digital significantly simplifies the maintenance of property documentation.
• Enhancing Service Delivery: By digitizing records, the e-Khata system ensures faster, more efficient access to property-related services for residents, improving overall service delivery.
• Fraud Prevention: A major benefit of the e-Khata system is its ability to reduce the risk of fraudulent activities, such as illegal registrations or fake Khatas, by maintaining transparent and secure digital records.
• Eliminating Duplicate Registrations: e-Khata prevents multiple registrations for the same property, protecting the rights of legitimate property owners and reducing the risk of disputes.
• Mitigating Disputes: By providing clear, accessible records of property ownership, e-Khata helps minimize property disputes and fosters a more secure environment for property transactions.

9. NHRC takes suo-motu cognizance of the reported fire in the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh .

Tags: State News

Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh 

Why in news?

• NHRC takes suo-motu cognizance of the reported fire in the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh resulting in the death of 10 babies.

What is matter?

• At least 10 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh on 15.11.2024. 
• Apart from these deaths, a total 16 babies sustained injuries while 37 were rescued. 
• Reportedly, the police authorities have confirmed that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit and the babies, who died, were in incubators at the time of the incident.

 What is the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ?

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a statutory body that promotes and protects human rights in India: 
• The NHRC was established on October 12, 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 1993. The Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA) of 1993 gave the NHRC a statutory basis. 
• The NHRC's purpose is to promote human rights awareness and protect human rights, which include the rights to life, liberty, equality, and dignity.
•  The NHRC also helps victims secure their human rights, including those granted by the constitution and international treaties. 

Role  of NHRC :

• The NHRC coordinates with other National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs) around the world to promote human rights awareness. 
• The NHRC also hosts delegations from UN bodies, other NHRIs, civil society, lawyers, and political and social activists.
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10. In Assam, ‘comics commandos’ join fight against child labour

Tags: State News

Comics Commandos

Why in news?

• InAssam, ‘comics commandos’ join fight against child labour.

Role of  comics commandos:

• Thirty youthslearn to campaign against social evils and rights violations through doodle storytelling infused with humour.
• The fight against child labour and child marriage,a new breed of warriors in Assam are  named as comics commandos.
• An organization conducting an educational programme to reduce school dropout has prepared a team of 30 local youths in the Balijan block of western Assam’s Goalpara district.
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