Current Affairs August 2020 - Regional



1 - Andhra Pradesh government launched 'E-Raksha Bandhan'

Cyber Crimes

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched 'E-Raksha Bandhan' campaign. It is aimed at creating public awareness on cyber crimes against women and children. The programme is jointly developed by Andhra Pradesh Police and Crime Investigation Department.

The month-long campaign would be conducted through online sessions in the form of webinars, workshops, competition, covering different topics related to cybercrime. The Andhra Pradesh police have also launched a new cybercrime portal to facilitate victims/complainants to report cybercrime complaints online.

2 - BSNL launched Bharat Air Fibre services in Maharashtra

BSNL

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched ‘Bharat Air Fibre’ services at Akola in Maharashtra as a part of the government's digital India initiative. It will allow the residents of Akola and Washim districts to get wireless internet connections on demand.

The service will provide wireless connectivity in the range of 20kms from BSNL locations through local business partners. The Bharat Air Fibre Services also aims at giving a push to the PM Modi's call for a 'self-reliant India' or 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat'.

3 - Rajasthan government started Indira Rasoi Yojana

Indira Rasoi Yojana

Rajasthan state government has started the Indira Rasoi Yojana. The estimated budget of the scheme is Rs. 100 crore per year. Under the scheme, the poor would get quality nutritious food for just Rs. 8.

The scheme will benefit 4.87 crore people every year. A menu of 100 grams of pulses, 100 grams of vegetables, 250 grams of chapati and pickles has been set in the food. The beneficiary will get the information through SMS on the mobile as soon as he takes the coupon.

4 - Chhattisgarh launched social security scheme for tendu leaves collectors

Tendu Leaves

Chhattisgarh state government launched a social security scheme for tendu leaves collectors. The scheme has been named Shaheed Mahendra Karma Tendupatta Sangrahak Samajik Suraksha Yojana in the memory of slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma.

Under the scheme, the government will give Rs. 2 lakh to the nominee or the heir in case of normal death of the head of the family of the registered tendu leaves collectors (if the age of the head of the family is not beyond 50 years).

5 - First-of-its-kind COVID-19 mobile testing lab launched in Karnataka

Mobile Testing Lab

The Karnataka Government launched a mobile COVID-19 lab, developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It is the first ICMR-approved mobile RT-PCR Covid-19 testing laboratory in India. 9,000 RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) tests can be performed in the lab per month.

MITR (Mobile Infection Testing and Reporting) lab by IISc has been handed over to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). The lab can also be used for testing H1N1, HCV, TB, HPV and HIV among others.

6 - Assam council of ministers approved Assam Non-Government Education Institutions Rules 2020

Assam Non-Government Education Institutions

The council of ministers of Assam approved the Assam Non-Government Education Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Rules 2020 to regulate the fees structure of the private educational institutes. The council of ministers meeting also approved the Assam Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) scheme 2020.

The meeting decided to implement ‘Uberization’ scheme of Assam State Transport Corporation and create two new companies of State Disaster Response Force.

7 - Gujarat announced Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana for current Kharif season

Kisan Sahay Yojana

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana for the current Kharif season. Under this scheme, all farmers of the state will be covered for insurance of crops without paying any premium.

The state government will pay Rs.5,700 crore premium of crop insurance per season per year. Farmers who must have already paid the premium for the existing scheme will get it refund. Tribal farmers are also included in this scheme contrary to the previous in which they were excluded.

8 - Maharashtra united with Google to start virtual classes

Google to Start

Maharashtra became first state to launch a project that intends to start virtual classes through G Suite for Education and Google Classroom. Maharashtra government has tied up with Google to provide online education to students in the state via Google Suite and Classroom applications.

The project will cover over 1.09 lakh government, private, aided, and unaided schools, and benefit over 22.03 million students. Teachers and students can interact through Google Meet to facilitate remote learning and digital education ecosystem.

9 - Delhi government launched new “Electric Vehicle Policy”

Electric Vehicle Policy

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched 'Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy'. There is already the Centre’s scheme on electric vehicles called ‘Fame India Phase-2’, under which the Union government also provides some incentives.

The highlights are as follows:

  • It will waive registration fee and road tax, and provide incentive of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for new cars.

  • Provision of incentive of up to Rs.30,000 for two-wheelers, autos, e-rickshaws and freight vehicles and up to Rs.1.5 lakh for cars.

  • It aims to constitute 25% electric vehicles by 2024 and reduce pollution levels.

  • Setting up 200 charging stations within the radius of three kilometers.

10 - Flipkart signed MoU with the Uttar Pradesh Government’s ODOP scheme

Flipkart

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace signed MoU with the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. As part of this MoU, artisans, weavers and craftsmen under the ODOP scheme will be brought into the ambit of the Flipkart Samarth initiative.

The One District One Product scheme was introduced to give a boost to the MSME sector while preserving and promoting the exquisite, indigenous legacy of art in Uttar Pradesh. Flipkart Samarth will enable them to break entry barriers by extending time-bound incubation support such as, free cataloguing, marketing, account management and warehousing support.

11 - HP government launched Nutritional Immunity Boosting ‘Him Haldi Dudh’

Him Haldi Dudh

Himachal Pradesh state government launched Nutritional Immunity Boosting ‘Him Haldi Dudh (Turmeric Latte)’ manufactured by MILKFED. Him Haldi Dudh has been developed by the Bio Technology Department of Punjabi University Patiala and has been patented. This drink is a Detox drink which has anti-hangover, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunity booster contents in it.

Under the National Diary Development Programme, MILKFED transferred Rs 2,000 each to the accounts of 835 milk producers as incentive amount. It also distributed 5 litre stainless steel buckets to 1,000 milk producers for collection and transportation of milk for marketing.

12 - Assam government to roll out Arunodoi scheme in state

Arunodoi Scheme

With an aim to provide financial assistance to around 17 lakh families, the Assam government is all set to roll out Arunodoi scheme in the state from 2nd of October. Under this scheme, an amount of Rs. 830 will be given to eligible families per month to buy essential food items. This will be the largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme in Assam.

15 to 17 thousand families would be benefited per assembly constituency by this scheme. The Assam government will bear Rs. 210 crore per month for the Arunodoi scheme.

13 - CM Pema Khandu launched Arunachal Pradesh Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme

Pema Khandu

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the Arunachal Pradesh Challenge Entrepreneurship Programme on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day. The programme seeks to support and encourage local youths to become job creators than job seekers.

IIM Calcutta Innovation Park has been given the mandate to run the Programme as a knowledge partner. The Programme will be rolled out in four stages--Arunachal Pradesh Entrepreneurship Challenge, Pre-Incubation, Incubation, and Livelihood Accelerator.

14 - Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio launched 'Yellow Chain' e-commerce platform

Nagaland

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the "Yellow Chain" e-commerce platform on the ocassion of the 74th Independence Day celebrations. The platform is a single window e-commerce platform developed to promote local business and entrepreneurship in the State.

Yellow Chain will act as an integrated platform for the people of the state, where any Seller/Service Provider/Individual/Group can register themselves and upload their products, trades, skills, services etc. to enable the citizens/buyers to have access to their Service or Product.

15 - Odisha emerged as number one investment destination in the country

Odisha

Odisha has emerged as the number one investment destination in the country. During the last 6 months, the State has received an investment proposal worth Rs. 12,000 crore. Odisha accounted 18% of the total investments made in the country in the last six months.

The agricultural growth rate in the State has clocked 7.61%, which is far ahead of the national average of 2.80%. Odisha has topped the nation for 4th consecutive time in building roads under PMGSY. Around 5,298.43kms of roads were built in the state in 2019-20.

16 - Chhattisgarh state government launched “Padhai Tuhar Para” scheme

Padhai Tuhar Para

Chhattisgarh government launched a student centric scheme named as "Padhai Tuhar Para" on 15th August, Independence Day. Under this scheme, school students will be able to learn in their respective localities in view of the suspension of classes, due to the coronavirus outbreak and benefit around 2.2 million children.

It is an online education platform, where a Bluetooth-based programme called Bultu ke Bol will provide study materials to students in remote areas with no access to the Internet.

17 - Delhi Police signed a MoU with All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

Institute of Ayurveda

The Delhi Police has signed a MoU with the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) for extending ayurvedic mode of preventive and promotive health services in the residential colonies of Delhi Police. AIIA will provide the services through a mobile unit named ‘Dhanwantari Rath’ and Police Wellness Centres.

AIIA and Delhi Police had earlier joined hands for AYURAKSHA. It helped maintained the health of frontline COVID warriors like Delhi police personal, through Ayurveda immunity boosting measures.

18 - Arunachal Pradesh to provide tap water to all rural homes by 2023

Tap Water

Arunachal Pradesh State Government plans to provide 100% tap water connections to all the households in the State by 2023 under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Tough mountainous terrain and harsh climatic conditions are major challenges in Arunachal Pradesh to implement JJM.

The Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household of the country by 2024. The goal of the Mission is to assure availability of potable water at a service level of 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) on a regular and long-term basis.

19 - UP joined hands with Israel to resolve Bundelkhand water crisis

Water Crisis

The state government of Uttar Pradesh has signed a ‘plan of co-operation’ with Israel to resolve water crisis in Bundelkhand region. The India – Israel – Bundelkhand Water Project comprises three key components including water conservation, water efficient transportation and advanced water practices for agriculture.

In the first phase, 25 villages in Babina block of Jhansi district had been selected. The agreement has been signed for two years and could be extended later.

20 - Karnataka set to be the first state to implement National Education Policy 2020

Implement National Education Policy

Karnataka is set to be the first state to implement National Education Policy. The National Education Policy, 2020 aims to address the many growing developmental imperatives and provide comprehensive framework for both school and higher education across the country. The new policy would make high-quality education available to all students.

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which was approved by the Union Cabinet of India on 29 July, 2020, replaces the previous National Policy on Education, 1986.

21 - Gujarat topped in first ever Export Preparedness index 2020 released by NITI Aayog

Gujarat

Gujarat topped the first ever Export Preparedness index 2020 released by NITI Aayog. It is the first of its kind index on the lines of ease of doing business ranking, which has ranked all the states and Union Territories on various parameters of export preparedness and competitiveness.

The first ranking in export preparedness index is the reflections of policy decisions taken by Gujarat Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Gujarat had also topped the ranking of the World Bank’s ease of doing business earlier.

22 - Kerala to organise first-ever dragonfly festival

Dragonfly Festival

WWF-India Kerala State Office united with the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam for the first-ever state Dragonfly Festival in Kerala named as Thumbimahotsavam 2020. ‘Pantalu’ is the official mascot of the festival.

Various webinars, training sessions, ecotourism activities, show of ‘Dragonfly Backyard Watch’ and session on spreading awareness on dragonflies will be organised by WWF India, Bombay Natural History Society and Indian Dragonfly Society in association with National Biodiversity Board, UN Environmental Programme, UN Development Programme and IUCN-CEC.

23 - E-auction portal rolled out to promote trading of ‘Kashmir Saffron’

Kashmir Saffron

Jammu and Kashmir's agriculture department has created an e-auction portal to promote trading of GI-tagged ‘Kashmir Saffron’. The Department, under the aegis of India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC), has created the portal in collaboration with NSE-IT, with the sole motive to assure buyers to have access to quality ‘Kashmir Saffron’.

The Saffron growers of Kashmir valley and buyers across India have been requested to register themselves as sellers and buyers for E- trading on www.saffroneauctionindia.com, so that, hassle free e-Trading between registered growers and buyers is ensured.

24 - Arunachal Pradesh assembly passed resolution to bring state under Sixth Schedule

Assembly

The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passed a resolution to bring the state under the ambit of Sixth Schedule of the Constitution besides amending Article 371(H) by including provisions to safeguard tribes of the state. It is a historic resolution moved by the State Government.

The resolution which was moved by Legislative Affairs Minister Bamang Felix on behalf of the State Government was passed by voice vote following a discussion in the house.

25 - Uttar Pradesh government launched NRI unified portal

NRI

Uttar Pradesh state government launched an ambitious NRI unified portal. This portal would not only help in investment in the state, but also, provide an opportunity for those who want to go abroad. The portal would also prove helpful to overseas Indians and NRIs to get their problems with the local administration or the State Government resolved.

The website - nri.up.gov.in - will also provide a platform for NRIs who are keen to know about their roots or those seeking help from the UP Government related to their homes or families in the state.

26 - Kerala to build India’s first International Women Trade Centre

Kerala

Kerala announced to set up India's first international women's trade centre (iWTC). It will enable women entrepreneurs to come forward and participate in international trade. With this initiative women entrepreneurs can start new businesses, set up or expand, and get their products marketed globally.

iWTC will be built in association with United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".

27 - Kerala government commissioned first marine ambulance

First Marine Ambulance

Kerala government commissioned first marine ambulance of the state named ‘Pratheeksha’. It has been built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and deployed at Vizhinjam. It was bulit at a cost of Rs 6.08 crore.

The marine ambulance will help save lives of fishermen during accidents at sea. It can provide critical care to five persons at a time and bed for ten others. The other two boats to be commissioned as marine ambulance are ‘Prathyasha’ and ‘Karunya’.

Advertisements