1. PM Modi distributed PMJAY-MA Yojana Ayushman cards in Gujarat
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed Ayushman cards to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Chief Minister Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) in Gujarat on October 17.
Important facts
The Prime Minister distributed Ayushman cards through video conference in a program organised in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.
Ayushman PVC cards will be distributed to more than 50 lakh beneficiaries under PMJAY-MA scheme in Gujarat.
This card is made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material.
The Centre's PMJAY scheme, which provides health care facilities to the economically weaker sections, was linked to Gujarat's Chief Minister Amrutam and Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya (MAV) health schemes in 2019.
Now all the beneficiaries of state schemes are eligible to get PMJAY-MA card.
- The “Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA)” scheme was launched in 2012 by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi to protect poor citizens from the cost of medical treatment and illness.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
It is the world's largest health insurance scheme which is fully funded by the government.
It was launched in February 2018.
Under this scheme a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family is provided for secondary care (which does not include specialist) as well as tertiary care (which include specialist).
Under this, the health benefit package includes surgery, medicine and daily treatment, cost of medicines and diagnosis.
2. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches Hindi version of MBBS book in Bhopal
Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News
Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a day-long visit to Madhya Pradesh launched India’s first Hindi version of MBBS course books in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 16 October 2022. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was also present during the launch event.
First medical college to offer bilingual MBBS course
Gandhi Medical College Bhopal became the first medical college in Madhya Pradesh and India to offer MBBS courses in both Hindi as well as in English medium, starting 2022-23 session. The book which has been launched in will be first used in the Gandhi Medical College.
Initially, three subjects have been selected to be studied in Hindi which includes anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
First State to offer bilingual MMBS course
Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to start the MBBS course in Hindi language. The state government intends to extend the bilingual medium of education in the medical field to all the medical colleges in the state.
In 2021 on a visit to Assam Prime Minister Modi has called to establish at least one medical college and one technical college in every Indian state which would impart higher education in regional languages.
Madhya Pradesh State
- Madhya Pradesh, with an area of 3, 08, 000 sq.km. Is the second largest state in India after Rajasthan.
- After Independence 25 princely states were merged to create a Madhya Bharat State on May 28, 1948.
- After the reorganization of states in 1956 it was renamed as Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 1956.
- On 1 November 2000, Chhattisgarh state was formed by dividing the state of Madhya Pradesh
- It is bounded by the states of Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the southeast, Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat to the southwest, and Rajasthan to the northwest.
Capital: Bhopal
- State Symbol of the Madhya Pradesh
- The State bird of Madhya Pradesh is “Dhudraj” the Asian Paradise Flycatcher.
- The State tree of Madhya Pradesh is the “Banyan”.
- The State animal of Madhya Pradesh in the “Barasingha” also called swamp deer.
- The State fish of Madhya Pradesh is “Mahasheer”, locally known as Mahasheer Baudas.
3. NGT impose a fine of Rs 2900 crore on Karnataka government for damaging the environment
Tags: Environment Science and Technology State News
A National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel has held the Karnataka government guilty of causing harm to the environment by its failure in management of solid and liquid waste.
The bench has fined the government Rs 2,856 crore for its failure in liquid waste/sewage management and Rs 540 crore for its failure in solid waste management.
The NGT said that the state government having already deposited Rs 500 crore the state will have to deposit Rs 2900 crore as fine in a separate fund within two months.
The fund will be under the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government and will be utilized for the restoration of the environment.
The NGT in recent months has imposed fines on a number of states like Telangana, Punjab, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Delhi for their mismanagement of municipal waste.
The NGT is monitoring compliance with the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental aspects by the states and Union territories.
The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. It deals with matters related to environmental protection and conservation of forest.
Its headquarters is in New Delhi.
Chairperson of NGT : Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
4. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates ‘PARAM KAMRUPA’ Supercomputer facility at IIT Guwahati
Tags: Science and Technology State News
President of India, Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated ‘PARAM KAMRUPA’ Supercomputer facility and a high-power active and passive component laboratory of at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati on 13 October, 2022.
Important facts
The President inaugurated the Dhubri Medical College and Hospital, and laid the foundation stone of regional institutes of the National Institute of Virology at Dibrugarh in Assam and Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
She urged the science and technology institutions to lay emphasis on research and technology.
The program was also addressed by Assam Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Praveen Pawar.
About ‘PARAM KAMRUPA’ Supercomputer
PARAM Kamrup, a one of its kind supercomputer in the North East region, has been set up under the National Supercomputing Mission.
National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
It will provide advanced computing, healthcare techniques along with solutions for many issues to this region.
Many components of this supercomputer are indigenously developed.
Such technological development will make India a world leader in super computing and enhance India's capability in solving the challenges of the country as well as the world.
The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) has deployed Supercomputer PARAM Ganga at IIT Roorkee in March 2022.
What are supercomputers?
A supercomputer can perform high-level processing at a faster rate than a normal computer.
They work together to perform complex operations that are not possible with normal computing systems.
Fast speed and fast memory are the characteristics of supercomputers.
The performance of a supercomputer is generally evaluated in petaflops.
National Supercomputing Mission
The National Supercomputing Mission was launched In 2015.
The aim of the mission was to enhance the research capacities in the country to form a Supercomputing grid.
It supports the government's vision of 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives.
The mission is being jointly operated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
It is implemented by Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and IISc, Bengaluru.
Some important facts about supercomputer
China has the maximum number of supercomputers followed by the US, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom..
India’s first supercomputer - PARAM 8000
first supercomputer assembled indigenously - PARAM Shivay, installed in IIT (BHU)
PARAM Shakti, PARAM Brahma, PARAM Yukti, PARAM Sanganak are some name of india's supercomputers
India's PARAM-Siddhi AI, has been ranked 63rd in the Top 500 list of most powerful supercomputers in the world.
5. 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2023 website launched to start online registration
Tags: National Summits State News
The website for the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention was jointly launched on 13 October 2022 by the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The launch of the PBD website (pbdindia.gov.in) marks the commencement of online registration for participation in the PBD Convention 2023.
Pravasi refers to the Indians who are working abroad (Non Resident Indians) or persons of Indian origin who have taken up the citizenship of other countries.
17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention
- The 17th PBD Convention is being organized from 08-10 January 2023 at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
- The 17th PBD Convention will be held in a physical format after a gap of four years. The last PBD Convention in 2021 was held virtually during the Covid pandemic.
- The theme of PBD Convention 2023 is "Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”.
- The PBD Convention 2023 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 09 January 2023.
- The Youth PBD will be held on 08 January 2023, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- On 10 January 2023, President Droupadi Murmu will confer Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the Valedictory Session.
Who organizes the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with a state government and an Industry body, either Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) or Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI) . It is normally organised on 9 January.
Significance of 9 January
- On this day in 1915 the greatest pravasi of India , Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915 from South Africa to India .
- His ship SS Arabia docked in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 9 January 1915.To honour and celebrate the occasion the government of India decided to start Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2003.
6. Maharatna Coal India to set up 1190 MW Solar Power Project in Rajasthan
Tags: Economy/Finance Science and Technology State News
The Government of India owned Maharatna Company, Coal India Limited (CIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RUVNL), for setting up a 1,190-MW solar power plant in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan on 13 October 2022. The plant will be installed in a 2,000-MW solar park being developed by RVUNL in Poogal, Bikaner.
RVNUL CMD R K Sharma and Technical Director of Coal India Limited, V Reddy signed the MoU in the presence of Union Minister of Coal Prahlad Joshi and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot in Jaipur.
Recently the e-commerce giant Amazon announced to set up its first solar plant in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan as an attractive destination for solar power
Rajasthan with Thar Desert is suitable for generation of solar power using the desert's intense heat. Furthermore, in comparison to the rest of the country, the state is thinly populated. Solar power plants in less populated areas enable clean energy to reach isolated communities that do not have access to electricity.
Rajasthan has the world's largest solar plant with a capacity of 2,245 MW in Bhadla of the Jodhpur district of the state.
In March this year the state government announced two new solar parks of 1,800 MW to be developed in the Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts of the state.
For the 800 MW project in Jaisalmer RNVUL was the developing agency while the 1,000 MW solar power project in Bikaner will be developed by Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation in the first phase.
Private solar project developer Rays Experts also announced in May this year that they will develop the world's largest solar park in Rajasthan with a capacity of 3000 MW. The project will be set up in Bikaner.
7. PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat Express train from Una in Himachal Pradesh
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country’s fourth Vande Bharat Express train from Una railway station in Himachal Pradesh on 13 October 2022.
Important facts
The train will run between Amb Andaura, Una in Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi.
The train will help in promoting tourism in the region and provide a comfortable and fast mode of travel.
The travel time from Una to New Delhi will now be reduced by two hours.
This is the fourth Vande Bharat train to be introduced in the country and is an improved version as compared to the earlier, which is much lighter and capable of reaching higher speeds in a shorter duration.
Features of Vande Bharat 2
It will be equipped with more advancements and improved features like 0 to 100 Kmpl speed in just 52 seconds, maximum speed up to 180 Kmph, lesser weight of 392 tons instead of 430 tons, and WI-FI facility.
The new Vande Bharat will also have 32-inch LCD TVs which were 24 inches in the earlier versions.
The 15 percent more energy efficient AC with the dust free clean air cooling of the traction motor will make travel more comfortable.
The facility of side recliner seats which is being provided to the executive class passengers will now be made available for all classes.
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.
Currently, two Vande Bharat Expresses are operational - first between New Delhi and Varanasi and the second from New Delhi to Katra.
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.
8. PM Modi lays foundation stone of two hydropower projects in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh
Tags: State News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of two hydroelectric projects in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh on 13 October 2022.
Important facts
These two hydroelectric projects are 48 MW Chanju-III Hydro-Electric Project and 30 MW Deothal Chanju Hydro-Electric Project.
These projects will generate more than 270 million units of electricity annually and Himachal Pradesh is expected to generate an annual revenue of about Rs 110 crore.
He also launched Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III in Chamba.
Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-III, about 3125 km of roads will be upgraded in the state.
Under this phase, about Rs 420 crore has been approved by the central government for the upgradation of 440 km of roads in 15 border and remote blocks of the state.
9. President Droupadi Murmu flags off Kolkata-Agartala express train
Tags: State News
President Draupadi Murmu flagged off the Agartala-Khongsang Janshatabdi Express and Agartala-Kolkata Express from Agartala Railway Station on 13 October 2022.
Important facts
These trains connecting Tripura to Assam, West Bengal and Manipur will help boost connectivity and tourism in the Northeast region.
The President is on a three-day visit to Tripura and Assam.
President Murmu inaugurated the Tripura Judicial Academy and laid the foundation stone of the National Law University, Tripura.
The President will later inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects of the Union Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and the Government of Assam.
This will include a supercomputer facility at PARAM Kamrup and a facility for design and development of high powered microwave components at IIT Guwahati.
The President will also lay the foundation stone of the Regional Institute of Medical College and Hospital at Dhubri, National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Dibrugarh (Assam) and Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh).
About Tripura
Capital - Agartala
Governor - Satyadeo Narain Arya
Chief Minister - Manik Saha
State Bird - Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
State Tree - Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis)
State Flower - Nageswar (Mesua Ferrea)
Borders - Bangladesh, Mizoram and Assam.
connected with the rest of India - by NH-44 that runs through Assam, Meghalaya, North Bengal, Kolkata and other parts of India.
No. of Districts - 08
10. First Sanctuary for 'Slender Loris' to be set up in Tamil Nadu
Tags: Science and Technology State News
India’s first sanctuary for the endangered species, Slender Loris was notified by the Tamil Nadu government on 12 October 2022. The first 'Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary' in will be set up in the Karur and Dindigul districts of the state, in about 11,806 hectares of land.
Slender Loris
Slender Loris are small nocturnal mammals that are arboreal in nature as they spend most of their life on trees. These look like monkeys and are about 25 cm long and have long, thin arms. They weigh around 275 grams. They are mainly found in India and Sri Lanka.
Apart from insects they are also known to eat leaves, flowers, slugs and sometimes eggs of birds. The species acts as a biological predator of pests in agricultural crops and benefits farmers. The nocturnal mammal is listed as an endangered species as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUNC).
Sanctuary for Slender Loris
A total of 11,806 hectares of forest areas in the Karur and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu have been identified as important habitats for Slender Loris. The Kadavur Slender Loris sanctuary will cover Vedasandur, Dindigul East, and Natham taluks in the Dindigul district and Kadavur taluk in the Karur district of Tamil Nadu.
