1. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated CoE-SLM at ICFRE in Dehradun
Tags: State News
Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in Dehradun on 20 May 2023.
An Overview of the News
The CoE-SLM was announced by the Prime Minister of India during the 14th Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.
CoE-SLM aims to promote South-South cooperation and address issues of land degradation through sustainable land management practices.
Specific activities of the CoE-SLM include setting LDN targets, developing drought risk and early warning systems, mainstreaming gender considerations, promoting good governance of land rights and entitlements, and addressing the effects of land degradation on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. involves assessing.
Bhupendra Yadav released two publications during the inauguration: "Technical Paper on the Pathway to Achieving LDN in India" and "Compendium of Sustainable Land Management Practices."
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
It is an autonomous organisation.
It operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
ICFRE conducts research, training and education in forestry and related disciplines.
Establishment - 1986
Parent Organization - Ministry of Environment and Forests (India)
2. Amit Shah lays foundation stone of campus of National Academy of Coastal Policing
Tags: State News
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 20th May laid the foundation stone for the permanent campus of the National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) at Okha in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district.
An overview of the news
The NACP is the first national academy in the country to train police forces to effectively protect the coastline.
It started functioning from the premises of Gujarat Fisheries Research Center in 2018.
NACP was established to provide intensive and high level training to Marine Police of nine Coastal States, five Union Territories as well as Central Police Forces.
The Center has sanctioned Rs 441 crore to develop NACP with modern infrastructure, latest technology and state-of-the-art training facilities to enhance the security of the coastal borders.
Objective of Academy
The academy's primary objective is to enhance the skills and capabilities of coastal police personnel.
Importance of the National Academy of Coastal Policing
The establishment of the National Academy of Coastal Policing highlights the government's commitment to strengthening coastal security measures.
This academy will serve as a dedicated training institution for the personnel of various coastal security agencies.
The inauguration of the campus at Dwaraka underscores the government's efforts to bolster coastal security infrastructure.
State-of-the-art facilities
The campus is expected to have state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced training modules, simulators, and practical training grounds.
These resources will enable the academy to deliver high-quality training programs to coastal police personnel, preparing them for various security challenges they may face.
Collaboration and coordination
The National Academy of Coastal Policing will facilitate collaboration and coordination among different agencies involved in coastal security, including theIndian Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and other relevant organizations.
Such cooperation is crucial for effective surveillance, intelligence sharing, and joint operations along India's vast coastline.
3. Congress leader Siddaramaiah sworn in as CM of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar as Deputy CM
Tags: Person in news State News
Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for his second term and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.
An Overview of the News
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, administered by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.
Several Congress MLAs including Dr G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, KJ George, MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan took oath as ministers in the state cabinet.
The ceremony was attended by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, as well as other political leaders.
The Congress government in Karnataka is now officially established.
About Karnataka:
It is a state located in South West India and has coasts of the Arabian Sea.
Formation - 1 November 1956
Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot
Capital - Bangalore
Rajya Sabha - 12 seats
Lok Sabha - 28 seats
4. Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves 'Mukhya Mantri Sikho Kamao Yojana' for unemployed youth
Tags: Government Schemes State News
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on May 17 approved the 'Mukhya Mantri Sikho Kamao Yojana' for unemployed youth.
About Mukhya Mantri Sikho Kamao Yojana
It was decided in the meeting that the name of Mukhya Mantri Kaushal Kamai Yojana will be 'Mukhyamantri Sikho-Kamao Yojana' (Chief Minister Learn-Earn Scheme).
Under the scheme, at least one lakh youths will be provided training in establishments.
All the youth who have done 12th pass, ITI, Diploma, Graduation and Post Graduation will be eligible for this scheme.
After the training, the State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) certificate will be given by the Madhya Pradesh State Skill Development and Employment Generation Board (MPSSDEGB).
Prestigious industrial and private institutions of the country and the state will be connected with the scheme.
Establishments will be able to train student trainees up to 15 percent of their total workforce.
Under the scheme, youth will be taught work and in return they will be given stipend by the government.
Under the scheme, 12th passed trainees will be given 8 thousand rupees, ITI passed 8 thousand 500 rupees, diploma passed 9 thousand rupees and graduate passed or higher educational qualification will be given 10 thousand rupees per month stipend.
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
5. UP holds 2nd position in GI tagged products
Tags: State News
After getting GI tag for three more One District One Product (ODOP) crafts, Uttar Pradesh has now come second in the country in terms of maximum number of items with Geographical Indication tag.
An overview of the news
The ODOP crafts which have got GI tag include Mainpuri Tarkashi, Mahoba Gaura Stone Craft and Sambhal Horn Craft.
Tamil Nadu leads with 55 GI-tags, followed by UP and Karnataka with 48 and 46 GI products, respectively.
However, UP ranks first in terms of GI-tagged handicrafts, with 36 crafts to its credit.
With this achievement, UP has overtaken Karnataka to become the second state with the highest number of GI-tags in the country.
Handicrafts in UP also have the highest number of GI tags.
About GI Tag
It is the short form of Geographical Indication and it is a unique identification of any region, town or state.
The tag is given in the name of certain products or signs that symbolise the uniqueness of that particular region.
When a GI tag is given to a particular product, it certifies that the product is made by traditional methods, has special qualities.
The Geographical Indication came into force on 15 September 2003.
Darjeeling tea was given the first GI tag in India in 2004–2005.
GI tag is given to products related to agriculture, handicrafts, food items, spirit drinks and industrial products.
The rules and regulations of the GI tag are governed by the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights at the international level.
6. PM Modi launches railway projects worth over 8,000 crore rupees in Odisha
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated several railway projects worth over 8,000 crore rupees in Odisha on 18th May via video conferencing.
An overview of the news
During the event, Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah.
The train will cover a distance of 500 km and will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts of Odisha and Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal.
The train will provide fast, comfortable and convenient travel experience to rail users, promote tourism and spur economic development in the region.
Regular operation of Howrah-Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express will start from May 20. The train will run six days a week.
The train will leave Howrah at 6.10 am and reach Puri at 12.35 pm and in return it will leave Puri at 1.50 pm and reach Howrah at 8.30 pm.
Projects dedicated by the Prime Minister
PM Modi also dedicated 100% electrification of the rail network in Odisha.
He dedicated the doubling of Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line, a new broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda, the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and a new broad-gauge line between Bichupali-Jhartarbha.
About Odisha
Capital- Bhubaneswar
Governor- Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister- Naveen Patnaik
7. 3rd G20 TWG meeting to be held in Srinagar
Tags: Summits State News
The third G20 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting will be held in Srinagar from 22 to 24 May.
An Overview of the News
Security arrangements on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) have been reviewed by the Army and other security agencies.
NH-44 is the only all-weather road connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country.
A high-level meeting with senior police and CRPF officials was held at Ramban, chaired by a brigadier-level officer.
Several security forces including Army, BSF, Police, CRPF and Village Defense Committees have been deployed along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC).
About Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India until August 2019, which was bifurcated as two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 August 2019.
Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)
Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha
Legislative Council - 36 seats
Legislative Assembly - 89 seats
Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice - Koteshwar Singh
8. Odisha CM expands ‘Special Development Councils’ in 14 Districts
Tags: State News
The Odisha government has expanded the jurisdiction of Special Development Councils (SDCs) from nine to 23 districts to improve the lives of 84 lakh tribal people.
An overview of the news
This extension signifies the government's commitment to ensuring the comprehensive development of indigenous communities residing in these districts.
SDC is targeted intervention aims to uplift and improve the lives of the tribal communities residing in the state.
The primary objective of extending the jurisdiction of the SDC is to bring positive changes to the lives of the indigenous people in Odisha.
By implementing targeted interventions, the government aims to address issues related to education, healthcare, infrastructure, livelihood, and overall socio-economic development in these tribal areas.
Significance of Tribal Community in Odisha
The tribal community holds great significance in Odisha, accounting for 22.8% of the state's population.
These indigenous populations have unique cultural identities, traditional knowledge, and a deep connection with their ancestral lands.
Recognizing their contributions and ensuring their well-being is crucial for the overall progress and inclusivity of the state.
About Odisha
Capital- Bhubaneswar
Governor- Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister- Naveen Patnaik
9. Flood Relief Exercise 'Jal Rahat' in Assam
Tags: State News
Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps, along with other disaster management groups, conducted a joint flood relief drill, 'Exercise Jal Rahat', at Hagrama Bridge on Manas River in Assam on 16th May.
An overview of the news
Apart from Indian Army- SSB, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and Police representatives participated in the exercise.
The event included coordination and rehearsal for rescue missions of people from inundated areas by joint efforts of expert teams of Army, NDRF and SDRF.
Purpose of "Jal Rahat" Exercise:
To showcase the Indian Army's preparedness and capabilities in responding to natural disasters, particularly floods.
To effectively coordinate relief efforts, rescue operations, and provide essential supplies and medical aid to the affected people in a timely manner.
Response to flood situation
Assam is prone to annual floods due to heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers.
The "Jal Rahat" exercise of the Indian Army demonstrated its quick response to the flood situation.
It demonstrated the Army's expertise in conducting rescue operations, evacuating stranded people and setting up temporary relief camps.
Distribution of Essential Supplies
As part of the exercise, the Indian Army ensured the distribution of essential supplies to the flood-affected areas.
These supplies included food, clean drinking water, medical aid, and other necessary items to meet the immediate needs of the affected population.
The army's efforts aimed to mitigate the hardships faced by the flood-affected communities.
About Assam State
Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor - Jagdish Mukhi
Number of Districts - 33
Lok Sabha seats - 14
Rajya Sabha seats - 7
State Animal - Indian Rhinoceros
State Bird - White Winged Duck
National Parks – Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
10. Inauguration of online education program 'Pahal' for rural children
Tags: State News
Chief secretary Durga Shankar Mishra inaugurated an online rural education programme ‘Pahal’ at Government UP Sainik Inter College, Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow on 15th May.
An overview of the news
This programme has been prepared by the department of secondary education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
The initiative aims to provide educational opportunities to rural children who have limited access to quality education.
'Pahal' is designed to bridge the education gap between rural and urban areas.
Under this program, in the initial phase, free online education will be provided in 10 government secondary schools of the state.
Through these classes, students of rural areas will be able to get the latest information related to science and mathematics.
The Chief Secretary said that the online rural education initiative is a new and good beginning.
About Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a state located in the northern part of India.
It is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous subdivision in the world.
The state was officially established in 1950.
Chief Minister - Yogi Adityanath
Capital - Lucknow
Governor - Anandiben Patel
Rajya Sabha - 31 seats
Lok Sabha - 80 seats
