1. Parshottam Rupala inaugurates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units and Centralised call centre in Thiruvananthapuram
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Purushottam Rupala inaugurated 29 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) and Centralised Call Center in Thiruvananthapuram on 5 January.
An overview of the news
It is a major step for the benefit of the livestock farmers in Kerala. Kerala is deploying 50 MVUs in different districts.
It will help transform the dairy sector from subsistence-based agricultural livelihood to a commercially viable enterprise, resulting in gainful employment for the youth of Kerala.
These MVUs will be operated through a centralised call centre with a common helpline number - 1962.
It will receive calls from herders/cattle owners and the vet will prioritise all the cases based on emergency nature and forward them to the nearest MVU for attending at the doorstep of the farmer.
The MVUs will act as one-stop centres for resolution of veterinary issues and dissemination of information in remote areas of the country.
The MVUs will provide diagnosis treatment, vaccination, artificial insemination, minor surgical intervention, audio-visual support to animal owners in far flung areas.
In the current financial year, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Govt of India has sanctioned 4332 MVUs across the country.
Background
MVUs are components under the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) scheme.
Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for delivery of veterinary health services at the doorstep of farmers by providing 1 MVU per 1 lakh livestock population.
The scheme provides 100% financial assistance towards non-recurring expenditure (@Rs.16.00 lakh/1MVU) on purchase and adaptation of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU).
Central share (100% for UTs, 90% for NE & Hilly States and 60% for all other States) towards recurring expenditure ( @ Rs.18.72 lakh/1 MVU) on running of these MVUs.
2. The first-ever “National Genome Editing & Training Centre” inaugurated at Mohali
Tags: Science and Technology State News
Union Minister of State for Science and TechnologyDr Jitendra Singh on 5 January inaugurated “National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC)” at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali in Punjab.
An overview of the news
He also inaugurated the 4-day International Conference on Food and Nutrition Security 2023.
He said that Agri-tech start-ups have a unique potential in India and more awareness is needed to make it successful.
National Genome Editing and Training Centre (NGETC)
It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and is a suitable platform for adoption of various genome editing methods including genome modification and to meet regional needs.
The center will also help in improving crops in present climate scenarios and making them more tolerant to changing environmental conditions.
NGETC will cater to the regional needs for adoption of various genome editing methods.
It will also empower young researchers by providing them training and guidance regarding its application in crops.
What is Genome Editing?
Genome editing, also known as gene editing, is a group of different technologies that provide scientists with the ability to alter the deoxy-ribonucleic acid (DNA) of an organism.
These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or changed at particular locations in the genome.
3. Varanasi Cantt Railway Station awarded ‘Eat Right Station’ with a 5-star rating certification by FSSAI
Tags: State News
The Varanasi Cantt Railway Station of the Indian Railways has been awarded the 5-Star 'Eat Right Station' certification for providing high quality nutritious food to the passengers.
What is ‘Eat Right Station’ certification?
The 'Eat Right Station' certification is provided by FSSAI to railway stations which set the standard in providing safe and nutritious food to the passengers.
This certificate is awarded based on the findings of an FSSAI-empaneled third-party audit agency with a rating of 1 to 5.
The 4-star rating indicates full compliance by the station to provide safe and hygienic food to the passengers.
This certification is part of the 'Eat Right India' initiative.
Other railway stations with this certification
The other railway stations with this certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station.
4. First G-20 meeting to take place in Puducherry on Jan 31
Tags: State News
Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said Puducherry would host the first G20 meeting on January 31.
An overview of the news
The Lt Governor released stickers, badges and posters with the G20 logo and also inaugurated a selfie booth in the presence of Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy at an event.
Representatives of different countries will participate in the meeting and many important decisions will be taken.
These programs will be organised in different parts of the country in different segments. Kolkata will host the first meeting on the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion.
A working group meeting will be held on health in Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai will host a meeting on education, while Guwahati will host the first sustainable financial meeting and Chandigarh will host the first financial architecture meeting.
5. Union Cabinet approves naming of Mopa airport in Goa after Manohar Parrikar
Tags: place in news National State News
The Union cabinet in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 January 2023 has given ex-post facto approval for naming the Greenfield International Airport at Goa's Mopa as Manohar International Airport, after former defence minister and Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa on 11 December 2022 had announced that the airport will be named after the late Goa Chief Minister and former Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Manohar Parrikar was the Chief Minister of Goa from 2000 to 2005, 2012 to 2014 and from 14 March 2017 until his death in March 2019.
Manohar Parrikar was also the Union Defence Minister from October 2014-March 2017.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in January 2020.
Manohar International Airport is the second airport in Goa after Dabolim airport.
6. Five-time MLA Kuldeep Singh Pathania to be next speaker of Himachal Assembly
Tags: Person in news State News
Senior Congress leader and five-time MLA from Bhatiyyat Kuldeep Singh Pathania is all set to be the next speaker of the Himachal Assembly. The election for the Speaker post is to be held on 5 January 2023.
With Kuldeep Singh Pathania being the only candidate his election is a mere formality. He will be the 18th Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh legislative Assembly.
His name was proposed by the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and was seconded by the leader of the opposition in the house and BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur.
Kuldeep Singh Pathania was elected to the Assembly in 1985, 1993, 2003, 2007, and 2022.
The first session of the 14th Himachal Pradesh legislative Assembly started on 4 January 2023 in the state capital Shimla. It is a three day session.
Jaiwant Ram was the first speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
7. Odisha wins World Habitat Award 2023 for its JAGA Mission
Tags: Awards State News
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Odisha government’s slum improvement and land titling programme, JAGA (Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission) Mission has won the UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Awards 2023. This year it was awarded the bronze medal.
This is the second time that the programme has received the UN-Habitat’s World Habitat Award. In 2019, the project received the World Habitat Awards for its success in providing land tenure security to slum dwellers.
This award is given by World Habitat, a United Kingdom -based organization, in partnership with United Nation (UN)-Habitat, every year, in recognition of innovative, outstanding, and revolutionary ideas, projects, and programmes from across the world.
JAGA Mission Plan of the Odisha Government
The Govt. of Odisha in May 2018 launched JAGA Mission based on the Odisha Land Rights to Slum Dwellers Act, 2017”.
It is the world’s largest slum titling and upgradation initiative.
It aims to make Odisha the first state in India to be slum free by the end of 2023.
Achievements of the Mission
- According to the state government under the JAGA mission out of 2,919 slums in the state;
- 100 percent of households in 2,724 slums have been provided with pipe water connections,
- 707 slums have transformed fully into liveable habitats,
- 100 percent of households in 666 slums have individual toilets, and
- 8 cities have become slum-free.”
- In the last five years, 1, 75,000 families have been granted land tenure security.
Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik
8. Union cabinet approves Rs 2,614.51 crore investment in the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project
Tags: National State News
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 January 2023 approved the investment of Rs 2,614.51 crore for the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project by state-owned SJVN Ltd in Himachal Pradesh.
The 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project is being developed by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (SJVN) on Sutlej river in the Shimla and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. The project on completion is expected to generate 1,382 million units of electricity annually.
This project would help in reduction of 11 lakh tons of carbon dioxide from the environment annually and Himachal Pradesh would benefit with around Rs 2,587 crore worth of free power.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had virtually laid the foundation stone of the 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project in Himachal Pradesh on 27 December 2021. He also laid the foundation stone of 210 MW Luhri Stage-1 on river Sutlej and 66 MW Dhaulasidh project being built on Beas river .All the projects are being developed by SJVN.
Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN)
It is a Mini Ratna Category-I Central public Sector Enterprises Company under the Union Ministry of Power.
The company is a joint venture of the Government of India and Himachal Pradesh government with the government of India holding the majority shares. It was set up in 1988 for hydroelectric power generation and transmission.
SJVN is presently implementing or operating power projects in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Odisha, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh in India besides neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
Chairman and Managing Director: N L Sharma
9. Odisha government to provide free rice for one year under the State Food Security Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes State News
The Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha will provide free 5 Kg rice per month to the beneficiaries under the State Food Security Scheme for one year. This was announced by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik on 3 January 2023.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office the total expenditure for the scheme will be Rs 185 crore which will be borne by the state government
Earlier the Government of India made the foodgrains provided under the National Food Security Act 2013 to the beneficiaries free for one year from 1 January 2023.
The Odisha government launched its own State Food Security Scheme on 2 October 2018 for those poor people who were not covered under the National Food Security Act 2013. These beneficiaries were provided 5Kg of rice at Re1 per kg.
Under the National Food Security Act the Antodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries get 35 kg of food grains (rice or wheat or coarse cereals) per month and the Priority Household gets 5kg per person per month.
Odisha
The State of Orissa was founded on 1 April 1936 after it was separated from the Bengal presidency.
1 April is celebrated as Utkal Dibas or Odisha divas in Odisha.
Odisha was earlier called as Orissa. Its name was changed to Odisha in 2011.
Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal
Capital: Its capital was at Cuttack but it was shifted to Bhubaneswar on 19 August 1949.
10. Madhya Pradesh government launched Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights Scheme
Tags: State News
In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights Scheme (Mukhyamantri Bhumi Adhikar Yojna) launched from Bakpura Panchayat of Tikamgarh district on 4 January 2023.
Important facts
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan distributed free pattas of residential land to selected beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, applications from 14 lakh people have been received from across the state.
Out of these, residential plots worth Rs 120 crore were provided to 10 thousand 500 eligible beneficiaries of Tikamgarh district.
The scheme will be launched in the entire state.
The Chief Minister had instructed the Revenue Department to identify the eligible beneficiaries for this scheme and prepare their data.
Each beneficiary family will be given a plot of about 600 square feet for construction of houses under various schemes including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
This step will also pave the way for construction of houses for poor families under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Madhya Pradesh
It is the second largest state area wise in India after Rajasthan.
According to the Indian State of Forest Report -2021, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country area wise.
25.14 % of its area is under forest cover.
Chief Minister - Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Capital - Bhopal
