1. ADB will give $ 141.12 million loan for the development of industrial corridor in Andhra Pradesh
Tags: State News
On 23 May 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $141.12 million loan agreement for the development of an industrial corridor in Andhra Pradesh.
An Overview of the News:
- The agreement has been signed to support the development of high quality indoor infrastructure facilities in three industrial areas in Andhra Pradesh. These are: roads, water supply plants and power distribution systems.
- The loan is the second tranche of a $500 million Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) under the program approved by ADB in 2016.
- With this loan facility, infrastructure facilities will be developed in three industrial clusters under the Visakhapatnam and Srikalahasti-Chittoor areas sanctioned in Andhra Pradesh.
Benefits to Andhra Pradesh from the loan:
- ADB financing will help the state in industrialization to increase the share of the manufacturing sector in the state's GDP as well as enhance competitiveness and increase employment opportunities in the project target areas.
- This project will help in skill development of people from socially and economically weaker sections besides increasing investment in the state.
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital : Amaravati
- Governor: S. Abdul Nazir
- Chief Minister: Y S Jaganmohan Reddy
- Official Language: Telugu (main language)
Asian Development Bank (ADB):
- Establishment : 19 December 1966
- Headquarters: Manila (Philippines)
- Member countries: 68 (India is a founding member)
- Objective: To promote social and economic development in Asia.
2. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched 'Hamar Sughghar Laika Abhiyan'
Tags: State News
On 21 May 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the 'Hamar Sughar Laik Abhiyan' in the 'Bharose Ka Sammelan' program at Sankra in Durg district.
An Overview of the News
The campaign aims to bring 1,800 malnourished children, identified through a survey, into the category of well-nourished children.
This is the first district level campaign of its kind in the state and focuses on managing the growth of children through hunger testing.
About Chhattisgarh
It is a state located in central India.
Sirpur, located near the capital Raipur, is a town situated on the Mahanadi River.
There is a huge Chitrakoot waterfall in the northwestern region of Chhattisgarh.
Formation - 1 November 2000
Capital - Raipur
Chief Minister - Bhupesh Baghel
Governor - Vishwabhushan Harichandan
Official Tree - Sal Tree
Rajya Sabha - 5 seats
Lok Sabha - 11 seats
3. PM flags off Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi on 25 May through video conferencing.
An overview of the news
The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the newly electrified railway sections in the state and declared Uttarakhand as a 100% electric traction state.
This will be the sixth Vande Bharat connecting Delhi through various routes.
As of now, the national capital is connected to Ajmer, Varanasi, Katra, Bhopal and Amb Andaura.
This semi-high-speed train is India's 18th and Uttarakhand's first Vande Bharat train, which will start its inaugural run from Dehradun to Delhi's Anand Vihar Terminal.
The train is equipped with world-class amenities, which will usher in a new era of comfortable travel experiences, especially for tourists traveling to the state.
It has advanced security features including armor technology.
The regular operations for the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express will start on 29 May.
With a travel time of 4 hours and 45 minutes, the train will cover a distance of 302 km.
The train will operate on all days of the week, except Wednesdays.
About Vande Bharat Express Train
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.
These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.
The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.
These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
4. Kerala becomes India's first fully e-governed state
Tags: State News
The state has achieved this feat through policy initiatives aimed at transforming it into a digitally empowered society.
An Overview of the News
The government focused on setting up a knowledge-based economy and achieving 100% digital literacy.
Important services across various sectors were digitized to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and accessibility for all citizens.
E-governance in Kerala has streamlined service delivery, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and delays.
Online portals and mobile applications have been launched for citizens to interact with government departments and access services easily.
Integration of technology in the education and healthcare sectors has been a priority, with digital learning platforms and telemedicine services being implemented.
About Kerala
Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Official Bird - Great Hornbill
Governor - Arif Mohammad Khan
Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan
Origin of rivers in Kerala
Periyar River
Bharathapuzha River
Pamba River
Chaliyar River
Chalakudy River
India's longest lake - Vembanad, Kerala
5. Maharashtra government launches ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ initiative
Tags: State News
Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of the Government of Maharashtra launched the ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ initiative in Satara district of Maharashtra.
An Overview of the News
The initiative aims to provide citizens easy access to government schemes and documents at one place.
District administrations have been directed to organise two-day camps in their respective areas to facilitate distribution of benefits.
Around 75,000 local people are expected to benefit from these camps.
About Maharashtra
It is a state located in the western part of India and covers a significant part of the Deccan Plateau.
Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde
Governor - Ramesh Bais
Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel
Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Official Dance - Lavani
6. First Urban Climate Film Festival
Tags: Festivals State News
The first ever Urban Climate Film Festival is going to be held in New Town, Kolkata from June 3 to 5 to sensitize the audience about the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on urban settlements.
An overview of the news
The festival will highlight the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on urban settlements.
The audience will be able to see these scenarios through the film.
During this, 16 films from 12 countries will be screened.
There will also be a Q&A session with filmmakers to discuss the impact of climate-change on urban buildings.
People's views will also be invited on this subject.
It aims to encourage citizens to 'behave environmentally responsible' in line with the call of the Hon'ble Prime Minister through the U-20 Priority Sectors and Lifestyle for Environment (LIFE) Mission.
The festival will conclude with a special closing ceremony on June 5, the occasion of World Environment Day.
Organizer of the festival
Launched in New Delhi in March 2023, the film festival is being organized by the National Institute of Urban Affairs.
This is being done through the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) program under the U20 (Urban Track of the G-20) program.
The festival is supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union and the New Town Kolkata Green Smart City Corporation Limited.
Names of participants in the festival
Dr. Surbhi Dahiya (Professor, Indian Institute of Mass Communication)
Dr. Pranab Patar (Chief Executive, Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment)
Sabyasanchi Bharti (Deputy Director, CMS Environment)
Background
The Urban Climate Film Festival was launched on March 24 at the Alliance Francaise in New Delhi.
After the successful event in Delhi, the festival was also organized at Alliance Francis de Bombay in Mumbai.
Films sent by filmmakers from countries such as India, France, Iran and the US were screened at the festival.
7. New species of flying lizard found in Mizoram
Tags: Science and Technology State News
Mizoram's flying lizard species has been officially named as Gecko mizoramensis.
An Overview of the News
The research for this discovery was done through a collaborative effort between Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, Germany.
The study detailing the findings of the research on the gliding gecko species was published in a renowned German journal on herpetology.
Specimens of Gecko mizoramensis were collected from different places of Mizoram.
Collection sites include the Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolasib District, Dampa Tiger Reserve, and Lawngtlai District.
Mizoram:
It is a state located in Northeast India.
The name "Mizoram" is a combination of two words: "Mizo" and "Ram."
"Mizo" refers to the self-described name of the original inhabitants of Mizoram.
Establishment - 20 February 1987
Capital - Aizawl
Chief Minister - Zoramthanga
Official flower - Renanthera imschootiana
Official Animal - Sumatran Serow
Official Tree - Ceylon Ironwood
8. Sourav Ganguly named as brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism
Tags: Person in news State News
Former India cricket captain and former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has been named as the brand ambassador for Tripura Tourism.
An Overview of the News
The Tripura government believes that Ganguly's popularity and charisma will draw attention to the state's unexplored tourist destinations.
The selection of Ganguly as the brand ambassador is expected to attract more visitors to Tripura and give a boost to the tourism industry.
About Tripura
It is a state in northeastern India and is bounded by Assam and Mizoram in the east and Bangladesh in the north, south and west.
Tripura is divided into 8 districts and 23 sub-divisions and Agartala is the state capital and largest city.
Tripura has 19 different tribal communities with a majority Bengali population and Bengali, English and Kokborok are the official languages of the state.
Tripura became a full-fledged Indian state in 1972 and only one major highway, National Highway 8, connects it to the rest of the country.
Five mountain ranges - Hathai Kotor, Atharamura, Longtharai, Shakhan, and Jampui Hills - run from north to south with intervening valleys.
Capital - Agartala
Governor - Dr. Manik Saha
Chief Minister - Mr. Satyadev Narayan Arya
Tourism Minister - Sushant Chowdhary
9. Madhya Pradesh govt to legalise more than 6000 illegal colonies in state
Tags: State News
Madhya Pradesh government has announced to legalize more than 6000 illegal colonies in the state.
An overview of the news
Illegal colonies that came into existence by 31 December 2022 will be legalised.
Basic amenities including road, electricity, water, drainage will be provided by the municipal bodies and panchayats in these colonies.
The amount of development fee will also not be taken from the residents of these colonies.
In urban areas, poor and laborers will be provided food for five rupees.
About Madhya Pradesh
In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.
According to the Indian Forest Status Report-2021, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover in the country in terms of area.
25.14% of its area is covered by forests.
Chief Minister -Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Capital -Bhopal
10. Target to completely withdraw AFSPA from Assam by December 2023
Tags: State News
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that a target has been set to completely withdraw AFSPA from Assam by the end of 2023.
An Overview of the News
The government aims to address concerns of human rights violations and promote accountability and transparency.
About AFSPA:
AFSPA (Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act provides additional powers to the armed forces to maintain law and order in areas affected by insurgency and internal disturbances.
It was implemented in the northeastern states of India (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, parts of Arunachal Pradesh) and Jammu and Kashmir.
AFSPA gives the armed forces wide powers including arrest, search and shoot on suspicion in "disturbed" areas.
Provides legal immunity to armed forces personnel for their actions during operations, making accountability for human rights violations difficult.
Aims and Objectives:
Its goal is to enable the armed forces to deal with insurgency and maintain public order in areas affected by armed insurgency or insurgency.
The Act empowers the military for preventive measures, search and arrest operations, and the use of force, including lethal force if necessary.
Challenges and Considerations:
AFSPA faces criticism for human rights violations and excessive use of force by the armed forces.
Concerns were expressed by human rights organizations regarding abuses, extrajudicial killings and torture.
Lack of accountability and transparency due to the wide powers and immunity given to the armed forces.
History:
Launched in 1958 to address the Naga insurgency in Nagaland, later expanded to other areas.
Implemented in Manipur, Assam, some areas of Arunachal Pradesh and in the east in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 2020, AFSPA was repealed in Jammu and Kashmir, which is now governed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
