Current Affairs June 2018 - Regional

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1 - Haryana Cabinet approved comprehensive affordable housing policy

The Haryana government has approved a comprehensive Affordable Housing Policy namely, Housing for all-2018 for core areas of municipalities. Accordingly, an affordable housing policy for core areas i.e. thickly built-up area of the old town, lal dora or phirni of village included in the municipalities or area shown as existing town in the Development Plan of the town, would be provided to the identified beneficiaries under Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.

The identified beneficiaries would be provided financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakh (Rs. 1.5 lakh centre’s share and Rs.1 lakh state share).

2 - India signed loan agreement with the World Bank for USD 21.7 million for strengthening public financial management in Rajasthan project

India signed a loan agreement with the World bank for 21.7 million dollars for strengthening the public financial management in Rajasthan project. The project size is approximately 31 million dollars, of which 21.7 million dollars will be financed by the World Bank, and remaining amount will be funded out of the state budget. The project duration is 5 years.

The project aims to contribute to improve budget execution, enhanced accountability and greater efficiency in revenue administration in Rajasthan.

3 - Prof. Ganeshi Lal sworn in as Governor of Odisha

Prof. Ganeshi Lal was sworn in as the Governor of Odisha. Orissa High Court Chief Justice Vineet Saran administered the oath of office to Prof. Lal.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several other ministers were present during the ceremony. Prof Lal took charge from Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik, who was given additional charge of Odisha after completion of the five-year tenure of Governor SC Jamir on March 21.

4 - Kummanam Raja Sekharan sworn in as Mizoram Governor

Kummanam Rajasekharan has sworn in as the 18^th Governor of the state Mizoram. Mr. Rajasekharan was administered the oath of office by the chief justice of Gauhati High Court Justice Ajit Singh at Raj Bhavan in Aizawl.

Mr. Rajasekharan was appointed as Mizoram Governor by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, replacing Lt. General (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma whose tenure came to an end. The Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, most of the Ministers of his council, former Chief Minister Zoramthanga, MLAs and leaders from different political parties were also present in the oath-taking ceremony.

5 - Ministry of Women and Child Development signed MoU with Government of Uttar Pradesh

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh for management of Home of Widows at Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has constructed this shelter home for widows with a capacity of 1000 inmates.

According to the MoU, the Government of Uttar Pradesh shall be responsible for activities including setting up mechanism for identifying beneficiaries, providing residential care to the widows, deploying staff as per norms with prescribed qualification and experience.

6 - Gaj Yatra launched in Garo Hills of Meghalaya

Gaj Yatra, known as the biggest campaign for elephants began through the Garo Hills landscape of the north-eastern state of Meghalaya for 4 days, touching five identified elephant corridors. Gaj Yatra is known to be the brand event ever planned around India’s National Heritage Animal – the Asian elephant. Gaj Yatra travels through 12 elephant range States to help secure Right of Passage for elephants through 101 vital migratory corridors mapped across India.

Gaj Yatra is meant to spread the message that the elephant is the best species indicator to maintain the health of the ecosystem of the State.

7 - UP government to set up one police station in each district to check power theft & minimise power loss in state

Uttar Pradesh state government has decided to set up one police station in each district to check power theft and minimize power loss in the state. These police stations will function under Power distribution companies.

State government has taken several steps to bring down the distribution loss as Centre has clarified that only 15% power loss will be compensated. 33 enforcement units are working in the state against the Power theft. Government has sanctioned 55 more enforcement units for the purpose.

8 - Bihar government launched new crop insurance scheme with effect from Kharif (monsoon)

The Bihar government has launched a new crop insurance scheme with effect from Kharif (monsoon) this year. The Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme replaces the existing system of crop insurance.

Under the scheme, farmers would be paid a compensation of Rs 7500 per hectare if less than 20% of the standing crop is damaged and Rs 10000 in case damage is more than 20%. Farmers do not have to pay any premium as per the scheme.

9 - Andhra Pradesh gets its own state symbols

The Andhra Pradesh state government has notified the state symbols for the state after the bifurcation. Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create Telangana in June, 2014.

Neem has been declared as the state tree. Blackbuck (Krishna Jinka) is declared as the state animal. Jasmine has been dcelared as the state flower. Similarly, Rose-ringed parakeet is the state bird. Neem has medicinal importance. Blackbuck is an antelope. Jasmine too has medicinal importance and is worn by women in their hair in South and South East Asia. The rose-ringed parakeet is a medium-sized parrot.

10 - Tata Motors signed MoU with Maharashtra to promote e-Mobility

Tata Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Maharashtra for deployment of 1000 Electric Vehicles (EV) across its range of passenger and commercial vehicles in the State. Tata Motors will facilitate setting up of EV Charging Stations in the State.

As part of the tender with EESL, Tata Motors has already completed production of 250 cars and initiated the phase two orders.

11 - Maharashtra announced financial support for tur farmers

The Maharashtra government would provide financial grant of Rs 1000 per quintal to those farmers whose tur and gram could not be purchased by the administration before the May 31 deadline. The state government had set up tur procurement target of 44.6 lakh quintals.

The Maharastra government would also give a financial aid of Rs 160 crore to farmers whose crops got damaged due to unseasonal rains or hailstorms. The Union government had extended the gram procurement period to June 13 under the price support scheme (PSS).

12 - Madhya Pradesh launched Bijli Bill Mafi Yojana 2018

The state cabinet of Madhya Pradesh government has approved the Bijli Bill Mafi Yojana 2018 (Power Bill Waiver Scheme) for labourers and poor families. It is expected to benefit about 77 lakh people of the state.

The state cabinet also approved Mukhyamantri Jan Kalyan (Sambal) Yojana 2018. Under the subsidised power scheme, registered labourers of the unorganised sector and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families would be provided electricity at a cost of Rs 200 per month.

13 - Punjab Government launched Business First Portal

The Punjab government has launched a "Business First Portal" with an aim to give a big push towards the ease of doing business in the state. The portal would facilitate the industrialists for Regulatory Clearances and Fiscal Approvals, real time tracking of applications at common platform.

Self access facility for the applicants has also been provided in the portal for the traders at first time on which applicants would be able to examine their application and enclosed documents.

14 - Himachal Pradesh government set to scrap semester system in undergraduate courses

The Himachal Pradesh government will discontinue the semester system in undergraduate courses and re-establish the annual examination system from the coming session under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

The government also decided to start nursery classes in 3,000 schools from the current year. All these schools would be equipped with library. Vocational courses would be started in 23 more schools bringing the number of schools offering vocational education to 43.

15 - Longest tunnel of Sikkim inaugurated

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre inaugurated Theng Tunnel. It is the longest tunnel in the state. The tunnel is constructed on the Gangtok-Chungthang State Highway.

The double-lane tunnel stretches for 578 meters and was built at cost of over 42 crore rupees by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity. It will also provide great relief to tourists and citizens travelling to North Sikkim district.

16 - West Bengal government to invest Rs 107 cr to control river bank erosion

The West Bengal Government is planning to invest 107 crore rupees to check soil erosion along the banks of the Ganga and the Padma. A stretch of 15 kilometers will be concretized, to prevent erosion. The work is expected to be completed by March 2019.

Around 37 spots have been identified where erosion of riverbanks is a serious problem and hampers the normal lives of people. In 2017-18, the state Irrigation department had invested Rs 72.1 crore to check erosion.

17 - Andhra Pradesh declared as ODF

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu declared the state as Open Defecation Free (ODF) State. The state achieved national cleanliness goal by constructing 2.77 lakh individual toilets.

The number of people defecating in open in rural areas has declined to 25 crore in January from 55 crore in October 2014. Till date, 11 states/UTs namely Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Meghalaya had been declared ODF.

18 - In a first, Andhra Pradesh to use auto-disable syringes for all clinical purposes

The Andhra Pradesh has become the first Indian state to pass an order to use Auto-Disable Syringes for all clinical purposes from 28^th July 2018. The state government will also declare the State of Andhra Pradesh as “Safety Injection Use State” from World Hepatitis Day that falls on the same date.

In the Health Technology Assessment report by PGIMER, Chandigarh, pointed out that 33% of Hepatitis B and 42% of Hepatitis C the world over is attributable to unsafe injections in developing countries.

19 - Maharashtra Government and Quebec Province inked MoU

Canada’s Quebec province and Maharashtra government inked pact to enhance economic cooperation in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and welfare of the tribal community. Canada’s Bombardier Inc. has promised to provide support in Maharashtra Metro and Monorail Transport Infrastructure.

Maharashtra government has put forward some important projects such as Maharashtra Samruddhi corridor, logistic parks and some other projects. The knowledge sharing of ports was also discussed between the two parties.

20 - KVIC distributed 2330 Bee-Boxes in Kashmir beating its own record

KVIC has created a world record of distributing maximum number of bee-boxes in one day. This was achieved by the KVIC at Kupwara in Kashmir beating its previous best of 1000 bee boxes distributed in Kaziranga forest area among the Mishing tribe on the occasion of World Honey Bee Day. 2330 bee-boxes were distributed among 233 beneficiaries in the Zangalee Army area.

The KVIC made an action plan named ‘Honey Mission’ – with a target to distribute 1.3 lakh bee-boxes across the country. The programme in Kupwara was held in association with the Indian Army.

21 - Bihar laid foundation of 122 schemes worth Rs 875 crore

On the occasion of 43^rd establishment day of the Bihar RajyaPulNirman Nigam Ltd, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid foundation of 122 schemes costing Rs 875 crore of the state bridge construction corporation. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appreciated the company’s success stating that government is benefitting from the company's success and that the company has contributed a lot to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

State Bridge Construction Corporation has earned a net profit of Rs 50 crore in 2017-18 and its turnover has shot up to more than Rs 1600 crore.

22 - Goa, Hawaii to sign sister state agreement

Goa government and the state of Hawaii of the USA will sign a sister state agreement. Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has also supported the idea. Gabbard is the first Samoan American and the first Hindu member of the US Congress.

The co-operation between Hawaii and Goa will cover areas including trade, tourism, sports, technology, pharmaceuticals, yoga, Ayurveda and medicinal plants, skill development, agriculture and fisheries.

23 - Goa Revolution Day celebrated

Goa Revolution Day was celebrated on 18^th June to pay tributes to the martyrs of the state’s liberation struggle. On this day in 1946, freedom fighter Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia gave a clarion call to the people of the state to unite and fight against the Portuguese colonial regime.

The revolutionary call provided a spark to Goa’s freedom struggle and the state was finally liberated on 19^th December, 1961.

24 - Punjab state government launched ‘i-Hariyali’ app

With an aim to provide clean and fresh air, the state government of Punjab has launched a novel initiative – ‘Ghar Ghar Hariyali’ (Green Cover Everywhere) campaign. As a part of the campaign, the government will provide free plant saplings through a mobile application ‘i-Hariyali’.

Users can book a plant sapling (Sheesham, Neem, Arjun, Harad, Behra, Anwla and Jamun, to name a few) of their choice from a nearby government nursery with the help of the app. The app aims to inspire more and more people to plant maximum saplings during the current monsoon season.

25 - Haryana has become the first state in the country to give star ranking to village panchayats

Haryana has become the first state in the country to give star ranking to village panchayats on the basis of seven social parameters. As many as 1,120 villages of Haryana have achieved star ranking under “7-Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow Scheme”.

The star rating to the village panchayats under the scheme is given on the basis of seven parameters such as Sex ratio, Good Education, Hygiene or Serenity, Environment preservation, Good Governance and Social Participation. Under the scheme the villages would be rewarded Rs one lakh for achieving each star.

26 - Sindhu Darshan Festival celebrated in Ladakh Region

Sindhu Darshan Festival is a 3 day festival of India held every year on full moon day (on Guru Purnima) in June. It is held at Leh, in Ladakh District of Jammu & Kashmir. It was first started in the October, 1997 and continues to be held every year.

2018 marked the 22^nd celebration of Sindhu Darshan festival. It was organized by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh in collaboration with Tourism Department. The historic festival is celebrated to pay tribute to River Sindhu, also known as the Indus, as an icon of the harmony and unity of India.

27 - Gujarat launched Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Policy

The Gujarat government announced Wind-Solar Hybrid Power Policy - 2018. The aim is to make optimum utilisation of the land and grid. It will have a coverage period of five years.

The projects approved under this policy can avail various benefits and rebates as mentioned in the policy document for a period of 25 years or till the life of the project. As a part of the policy, developers can set up wind energy units on the land currently in use for solar power units. Similarly, a solar power project can be set up on the land being used for wind farms.

28 - PM Modi inaugurated several development projects in Madhya Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several development projects worth over 4700 crore Rupees in Madhya Pradesh. These include houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana, urban drinking water supply schemes, urban solid waste management, urban sanitation, urban transportation and urban landscape projects.

PM Modi also launched urban economical bus service "sutra seva" and presented Swachhta Survekshan-2018 Awards to the clean cities and best performing states. He also laid the Foundation stone of three Drinking Water Schemes and released the Water Resources Work Plan 2024.

29 - Maharashtra banned single-use plastic

According to the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Store) Notification, 2018, the manufacture, usage, sale, storage and transport of products made from plastic and thermocol will be banned with immediate effect across the state.

The government has proposed fines of Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 for the first three offences, with the maximum punishment for violation of the ban being a three-month jail term.

30 - Gujarat launched 'Suryashakti Kisan Yojana' for farmers

Gujarat state government launched solar scheme Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY) for farmers. It will help farmers in generating electricity and sell the surplus power to the grid. Solar panels will be provided to farmers for load requirement for generating electricity. Farmers can sell surplus power and earn money.

Under this scheme, both the state government and central government will bear 60% of the cost of the project by returning it to farmers in the form of subsidy. The rest 35% cost will be provided to farmer at an affordable loan price whereas rest 5% will be borne by farmer.

31 - Odisha increased health cover under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana

Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana was announced by the Chief Minister on June 12. Under this yojna, women were provided with health cover of 5 lakhs. However, now it has been increased to 7 lakhs. Under BijuSwasthyaKalyanYojana, secondary and tertiary cashless health care assistance will be provided to around 3.5 crore people from over 70 lakh families in the state.

Odisha government also announced sanction of Rs 31.54 crore for 154 panchayats in seven blocks of six districts under Ama Gaon Ama Bikash Yojana at the block level.

32 - Committee formed for floating solar power plant in Maharashtra

A committee has been set up by Maharashtra government to study issues related to the development of a 1,000-MW floating solar power plant at Ujani dam in Solapur district. The committee will be headed by Director (Commercial) of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), Satish Chavan.

The ministry observed the shortage of empty land available for construction of dam and thus to set up solar plants, large flat lands are required. The committee will analyze the water levels of Ujani dam, fluctuation in its water levels and environmental impact.