1. Madhya Pradesh Approves ‘Brindavan Gram’ Scheme and Launches Statewide ‘Gita Bhavan’ Initiative
Tags: State News
The Madhya Pradesh government approved the 'Brindavan Gram' scheme, announced on Janmashtami, August 26.
An Overview of the News
The ‘Brindavan Gram’ scheme, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, will be implemented in one gram panchayat from each of the 313 blocks of the state.
Key focus: Establishing gaushalas (cow sheds) to promote milk production and increase farmers' incomes.
Key Features of the ‘Brindavan Gram’ Scheme
Promotion of Milk Production: Gaushalas will be set up in selected villages to enhance milk production.
Solar Energy: Houses in the selected gram panchayats will be equipped with roof-top solar panels under the state’s solar policy.
The scheme will be implemented by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, with an official notification to be issued soon.
Launch of ‘Gita Bhavan’ Initiative
The Madhya Pradesh government also approved the establishment of ‘Gita Bhavan’ in all urban bodies across the state.
Purpose: To disseminate spiritual knowledge and teachings of scriptures and prominent personalities.
Each centre will house spiritual literature, including the Bhagavad Gita and other works related to Lord Krishna.
Existing Gita Bhavan in Indore
Madhya Pradesh currently has one ‘Gita Bhavan’ in Indore, which serves as a religious and cultural centre promoting the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
It is a religiously neutral space that welcomes people from all faiths, featuring images and idols of various gods and depictions from the Puranas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana.
320th Birth Anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar
The state government approved the formation of an organising committee to plan celebrations for the 320th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
Various events and programs will be conducted throughout the year to honour the Maratha Malwa queen, known for her visionary leadership.
About Madhya Pradesh
In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.
National Parks - Panna National Park, Pench National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries - Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Ghatigaon wildlife sanctuary
Capital - Bhopal
Chief Minister - Dr. Mohan Yadav
Governor - Mangubhai C. Patel
2. President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Maharashtra
Tags: State News National News
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir, Latur district, Maharashtra.
An Overview of the News
President installed a statue of Gautama Buddha inside the vihara and paid tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by offering flowers at his statue.
The event included a traditional Buddha worship ceremony.
Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended the event.
Features of the Buddha Vihara
The newly inaugurated Buddha Vihara is a replica of the Buddha Vihara in Kalburgi, Karnataka.
Located on a 15-hectare site, it features a meditation centre that can accommodate 1,200 followers.
The main entrance, inspired by the Sanchi Stupa in Bihar, serves as an impressive entryway to the premises.
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 - C.P. Radhakrishnan
Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel
Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Official Dance -Lavani
3. Cabinet Approves ₹3,300 Crore Semiconductor Facility by Kaynes Semicon in Gujarat
Tags: Economy/Finance State News
The Cabinet has approved Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd's proposal to establish a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
An Overview of the News
The aim is to foster a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem. The investment for this unit will be ₹3,300 crore.
The unit will have a production capacity of 60 lakh chips per day. The chips produced will serve various sectors, including industrial, automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones.
The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India, launched in December 2021, has a total outlay of ₹76,000 crore.
Construction of four semiconductor units is advancing rapidly, with a combined investment of nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore.
The total production capacity of these units will be approximately seven crore chips per day.
About Gujarat
Founded: May1, 1960
Previous State: Bombay State
Capital: Gandhinagar
Official Bird: Greater flamingo
Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor: Acharya Devvrat
4. Sembcorp to Invest Rs 36,238 Crore in Green Hydrogen Facility in Tamil Nadu
Tags: State News National News
Sembcorp Industries, based in Singapore, will invest Rs 36,238 crore to set up a green hydrogen/green ammonia manufacturing unit in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
An Overview of the News
Tamil Nadu will be the first state in India to commence large-scale commercial production of green hydrogen.
Facility Overview:
The foundation stone for the unit was laid by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on August 21, 2024, during the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2024 in Chennai.
The facility will cover 160 acres and initially produce 200,000 metric tonnes of green ammonia annually for export to Japan.
At the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024, Sembcorp signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the facility.
Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2024 Highlights:
The Chief Minister inaugurated 28 industrial projects with a total investment of Rs 51,157 crore and 19 additional projects with an investment of Rs 17,616 crore, bringing the total to 47 projects.
The Tamil Nadu government, in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) and TATA Technologies, will set up the Tamil Nadu Engineering and Innovations Centre (TN ENGINE) in Coimbatore with an investment of Rs 400 crore.
Tamil Nadu
It was formerly known as Madras State.
Capital: Chennai
Bird: Emerald Dove
Chief Minister: M.K. Stalin
Governor: R.N. Ravi
5. New Three-Edible Bug Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
Tags: State News
A team of entomologists discovered three new species of edible stink bugs in Arunachal Pradesh.
An Overview of the News
These bugs belong to the genus Coridius within the family Dinidoridae (Hemiptera).
The new species are named Coridius adii, Coridius insperatus, and Coridius esculentus.
The findings were published in the peer-reviewed open-access journal PLOS One.
Research Team and Support:
The research team included Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan (Team Lead), Swapnil Boyane, Sandeep Sen, Nikhil U. Joshi, and Pavan Kumar Thunga from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, and Hemant Ghate from Modern College of Arts Commerce and Science, Pune.
The study was supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), as part of the project titled "Bio-resource and Sustainable Livelihoods in North-East India."
About the Genus Coridius:
Coridius is economically important, as species of this genus are consumed by Indigenous people in northeast India.
These bugs are relatively large, ranging from 15 mm to 25 mm in size, and primarily feed on plant sap.
Entomophagy (eating insects) is a long-standing tradition in Northeast India.
Details of Each Species:
Coridius adii:
Named after the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, who consume it as food.
Characterized by a pale brown to dark brown color with irregular yellow patches on its upper body.
Coridius insperatus:
Unique features include 4-segmented antennae and a copper-colored back.
Differentiates from similar bugs which have 5-segmented antennae and are dark brown, yellow, or black on top.
Consumed by the Nyishi and Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
Sold in the Nirjuli local market in Itanagar during the winter season (October-January).
Coridius esculentus:
Considered a delicacy among ethnic communities.
Consumption has neurotoxic effects, causing photophobia (sensitivity to light).
The metathoracic glands of these bugs may secrete chemicals responsible for this intoxication.
6. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited (TIAL) Receives Greentech Award
Tags: Awards State News
TIAL has been honored with the Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling (PCWR) Award 2024 by Greentech Foundation.
An Overview of the News
The award was presented at the Greentech PCWR 2024 Summit, Awards, and Expo held in Guwahati, Assam.
The award recognizes TIAL's excellence in achieving a 'zero waste to landfill' status.
The airport has achieved a landfill diversion rate of 99.50% through sustainable waste management practices.
Waste Management Practices
TIAL's waste management follows the cradle-to-cradle concept, emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.
The airport processes 100% of its plastic and solid waste.
Certification and Systems
The waste management system at TIAL is certified under ISO 14001:2015.
It includes innovative mechanisms for collecting separated waste and transporting it to the recycling yard.
TIAL is managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, and is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
7. Chhattisgarh Establishes Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla as Fourth Tiger Reserve
Tags: State News
The Chhattisgarh government announced the creation of a new tiger reserve named Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
An Overview of the News
This marks the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, alongside Indravati Tiger Reserve (Bijapur), Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (Gariaband), and Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Mungeli).
The decision was made in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai after recommendations from the State Wildlife Board and approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (GoI).
The NTCA will provide additional budgetary support for the operations of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
Background and Proposal History
In 2012, the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board decided to declare the combined area of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
A proposal was submitted to the NTCA in August 2014, and the NTCA gave its in-principle approval in October 2014.
The final approval for the creation of the tiger reserve was granted by the NTCA in 2021, but further action by the state authorities was delayed until now.
The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve will cover an expansive area of 2,829.387 square kilometers across the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur.
Chhattisgarh
Capital: Raipur
State Bird: Common Hill Myna
Wildlife Sanctuaries:
Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary
Udanti Wild Buffalo Wildlife Sanctuary
Tiger Reserve: Indravati Tiger Reserve
Chief Minister (CM): Vishnu Deo Sai
Governor: Ramen Deka
8. CM Bhupendra Patel Inaugurates First-Ever IACC-MSME Centre of Excellence in Gujarat
Tags: State News
On August 8, 2024, Gujarat's Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, inaugurated the first-ever Indo- American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)-MSME Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the KCG auditorium, i-HUB campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
An Overview of the News
The CoE aims to upgrade and strengthen MSMEs to meet global export market standards.
IACC-MSME Center of Excellence (CoE) Details
The centre will enhance industrial relations between India and the United States.
It is designed to equip MSMEs with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate global markets and improve export capabilities.
This initiative is part of the IACC’s strategy to boost economic relations between India and the USA by addressing challenges faced by Indian MSMEs and facilitating their access to the American market.
Additional Information
Gujarat has 19.80 lakh registered MSMEs, employing nearly 1.07 crore people, thanks to initiatives like ease of doing business, supportive policies, and prompt government clearances.
Gujarat contributes 8.63% to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The IACC promotes trade between India and the USA, with bilateral trade reaching USD 200 billion in 2023.
About Gujarat
Founded: May 1, 1960
Previous State: Bombay State
Capital: Gandhinagar
Official Bird: Greater flamingo
Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor: Acharya Devvrat
9. Union Minister Launches 24×7 Water Supply Project in Manimajra, Chandigarh
Tags: State News
Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 24×7 Water Supply Project at Manimajra, Chandigarh on August 4, 2024.
An Overview of the News
The event was attended by Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh.
Project Detail:
Completed at a cost of approximately Rs 75 crore, with Rs 85 crore allocated for 15 years of maintenance.
The project covers 22 kilometers of water supply pipeline across 855 acres, benefiting over 1 lakh residents.
Two large underground water reservoirs have been established, each with a capacity of 2 Million Gallons per Day (MGPD) to ensure 24-hour water availability.
Smart meters have been installed to detect any water leakage early, with the cost of leakage no longer being borne by the consumers.
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pump has been installed to maintain optimal water pressure.
About Chandigarh
Formation: 7 October 1953
Capital: Chandigarh
Districts: 1
Administrator: Gulab Chand Kataria
Chief Secretary: Rajeev Verma, IAS
Lok Sabha Seats: 1
Symbols
Bird: Indian grey hornbill
Flower: Dhak
Fruit: Mango
Mammal: Indian grey mongoose
Tree: Mangifera indica
10. Madhya Pradesh Becomes First State to Offer Cash for Sanitary Napkins
Tags: State News
Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in India to provide cash to girl students for purchasing sanitary napkins.
An Overview of the News
Unlike states such as Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Delhi, which distribute free sanitary napkins, Madhya Pradesh is offering financial aid instead.
Details of the Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme
Under the Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme, ₹300 has been transferred to the accounts of each girl student for one year.
This initiative has benefited approximately 19 lakh students from classes 7 to 12.
During a recent program, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan announced that Rani Durgavati would be included in the curriculum of government schools in the state.
About Madhya Pradesh
In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.
National Parks - Panna National Park, Pench National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries - Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Ghatigaon wildlife sanctuary
Chief Minister - Dr. Mohan Yadav
Governor - Mangubhai C. Patel
Capital - Bhopal
