Current Affairs October 2019 - Regional

1 - Centre approved 400 crore rupees for Bihar and 1200 crores for Karnataka for flood relief operations

Keeping in view the severity of flood situation and the fund positions in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) account of Bihar and Karnataka, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved advance release of 400 crore rupees to Bihar and 1200 crore rupees to Karnataka from National Disaster Response Fund.

The Union Home Misnister has further approved the advance release of 2^nd installment of centre’s share of SDRF amounting to over 213 crore rupees to Bihar for the year 2019-20.

2 - Union Government approved SEZ at West Jalefa in South Tripura

The Central government has approved a proposal in principle to set up an agro-based Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at West Jalefa in Sabroom subdivision of South Tripura. An estimated investment of setting up first-ever SEZ would be around Rs. 1550 crore which will generate 12,000 jobs.

Under the plan, rubber-based industrial units, rubber thread, apparel making, bamboo and food process units are proposed to be set up. The SEZ will be set up by Tripura Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDC).

3 - J&K government proposed to set up centres of excellence for floriculture

Jammu and Kashmir Government is proposing to set up centres of excellence for floriculture, one each in Jammu and Kashmir division, to train and guide growers in floriculture, production of bulbs and cut flowers, perfumery and propagation of aromatic and medicinal plants.

The Government will provide 30 lakh rupees each to the two agricultural universities of the State for training and capacity building of floriculture farmers.

4 - Gujarat government announced series of steps to boost MSME sector in state

Gujarat Government has announced series of steps to boost MSME sector in the state with an aim to create ease of doing business. The state government has permitted MSME units from obtaining various approvals from the government for the first 3 years of functioning. After that they can get the approvals in next 6 months.

Government also decided to bring an ordinance to facilitate the MSME units. Nodal agencies will be set up at state level and district level for this purpose.

5 - Goa Maritime Conclave– 2019

The 2-day Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC)-2019 was inaugurated by the National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Kumar Doval, at Goa on 4^th October 2019. It was conducted by the Naval War College, Goa. The NSA also released the 31^st edition of the Naval War College Journal.

The theme for the conclave is “Common Maritime Priorities in Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) and need for Regional Maritime Strategy”. The event was attended by Chiefs of Navies and senior representatives from 10 Indian Ocean littoral countries.

6 - UP government launched renovation work of roads with use of plastic

Uttar Pradesh government has launched the renovation work of roads with the use of plastic in 9 cities. In the first phase of the project roads will be renovated in Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Meerut, Prajagraj, Jhansi, Kanpur, Bareilly and Agra districts.

Single-use plastic items including plastic bags, spoons, cups, straws and bottles has been banned with effect from October 2, 2019, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 150^th birth anniversary. The Narendra Modi-led Union Government aims to completely eliminate the use of single-use plastic by 2022.

7 - Government of Chattisgarh launched 5 new schemes

The Chattisgarh government has launched following 5 new schemes

Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan: fresh and nutritious food has been provided to malnourished children and anaemic women with the help of panchayats and self-help groups.
Mukhyamantri Haat Bazaar Clinic Yojana: mobile teams of health department along with doctors and necessary equipment will visit local haat-bazaars.
Mukhyamatri Shahariya Slum Swasthya Yojana: mobile medical team along with available health facilities to cater to health care needs of over 7 lakhs 80 thousand people.
Universal PDS Scheme: general category families (taxpayers and non-taxpayers) will also be eligible for food grains at subsidised rate of Rs 10 per kg.
Mukhyamantri Ward Karyalaya: provide immediate availability of citizen services and facilities to people according to their demands.

8 - Rajasthan government announced ban on select categories of pan masala

The Rajasthan government announced a ban on pan masala containing magnesium carbonate, nicotine, tobacco, mineral oil and flavoured 'supari' in the state. The government has banned these items under the Food Security Act.

With this, Rajasthan has become the third state after Maharashtra and Bihar to announce such a move. Henceforth, production, storage, distribution and sale of these products will not be allowed in the state of Rajasthan.

9 - Andhra Pradesh state government launched YSR Vahana Mitra scheme

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched YSR Vahana Mitra scheme which provides Rs. 10,000 allowance to self-employed drivers of the state. As a part of the scheme, the government will provide ₹10,000 financial assistance to auto, taxi and maxi driver-cum-owners. It will provide Rs. 50,000 to self-employed drivers in 5 years.

The annual allowance would be provided to meet the recurring expenses such as insurance premium, licence fee and maintenance of vehicle to procure fitness certificate. The government allocated a budget of Rs.400 crores in annual budget for implementation of welfare scheme.

10 - India’s first e-waste clinic to be set up in Bhopal

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have come together to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal. It will enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units.

Electronic waste will be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee. The clinic is being conceived in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

11 - Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated ‘AngiKaar’ campaign

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the ‘AngiKaar’ campaign. The objective of the ‘AngiKaar’ campaign is to bring the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U) under one fold of other central government implemented scheme.

Angikaar has been launched for social behaviour change, focusing on issues such as water & energy conservation, waste management, health, tree plantation, sanitation and hygiene. The campaign will conver the schemes and Missions of other Ministries dealing with these subjects. The convergence would especially focus on Ujjwala for gas connection and Ayushman Bharat for health insurance to the beneficiaries of PMAY (U).

12 - First-of-its-kind ‘Garbage Cafe' started in Chhattisgarh

The first-of-its-kind 'Garbage Cafe' commenced in Ambikapur city of Chhattisgarh run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation. In this unique Cafe', poor people and rag pickers will get free food in exchange for one kilogram of plastic, while breakfast will be provided if half a kilogram of plastic is brought to the cafe.

Ambikapur is Chhattisgarh’s first dustbin-free city. The city has been hailed as the second cleanest city in the country in Swachhata rankings.

13 - Odisha's biggest trade fair begin on Nov 12

Baliyatra, one of the biggest trade fairs of Odisha, is scheduled to begin on November 12. The trade fair will continue for eight days. 2019 Baliyatra will be jointly organised by the Cuttack District Administration, District Cultural Council, and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).

A preparatory meeting for the mega fair was recently held under the chairmanship of District Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani at Cuttack. Administration will issue identity cards to all stall owners, have informative centers and install an adequate number of CCTV cameras and watchtowers at the fairground.

14 - India, ADB signed 190-million-dollar loan agreement for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan

India and Asian Development Bank signed 190-million-dollar loan agreement for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan. The agreement was signed to upgrade 754 kilometres of state highways which will benefit about 26 million people in 14 districts of Rajasthan.

The agreement was signed between Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Mr Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission.The project provides for constructing more than 200 bus stops and 2 kilometer of raised sidewalk on project roads.

15 - 10^th National Cultural Festival held in Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, the 10^th edition of the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav-National Cultural Festival was organised by the Union Ministry of Culture under the 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' campaign. The National Cultural festival displayed diverse forms of folk, art and culture of 22 states.

The National Festival featured artists and artisans from many states including Assam, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. The festival showcased the cultural heritage of India through performances of art, folk music, dance, handicrafts and cuisines of Leh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and West Bengal.

16 - UP Culture Department to organise training & performance programme of KHON Ramlila

The Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh government is going to organise the country’s first training and performance programme of world famous KHON (खोन) Ramlila, a masked form of Ramlila art of Thailand in collaboration with Thai government. Artists, who will get training from experts of Thailand as part of cultural exchange programme between two nations, will perform at Grand Deepotsav function in Ayodhya.

KHON Ramlila of Thailand is included in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage and it’s a masked dance depicting the scenes of Ramlila without dialogues and background voices while narrating the whole story of Ramayana.

17 - Odisha’s first Robot Restaurant opened in Bhubaneswar

Odisha's smart city Bhubaneswar gets it 1^st Robot Chef Restaurant in Odisha. The Robot Restaurant opened at the Infocity DLF tower of Bhubaneswar claims to be the first restaurant in Eastern India where two indigenously developed robots, 'Champa' and 'Chameli' are engaged. The robots are developed at a Jaipur-based start up using SLAM technology, and it automatically navigates like humans, follows the routes and instructions and takes feedback from customers.

Earlier Chennai and Bengaluru had introduced smart restaurants with robot machines imported from China.

18 - Chief Minister Kamal Nath inaugurated “Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference”

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath formally inaugurated the two-day Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference. Many well-known industrialists are attended this conference held in Indore. Chief Minister Kamal Nath also inaugurated the Global Trade Exhibition at the BrilliantConvention Centre, Indore. Government announced to consider foreign investment proposals worth 4,385 crore rupees and around 223 industries will invest in Madhya Pradesh.

The event displayed various opportunities that exist in the state in variegated sectors, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, textile and garment, warehousing and logistics, IT & Electronics System Development and Maintenance (ESDM), urban development and renewable energy.

19 - Odisha Chief Minister launched ‘Odisha-Mo Parivar’ scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched ‘Odisha-Mo Parivar’, a social welfare programme of his party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. The programme will focus on three major areas -- environment, healthcare services and assistance to poor and deprived people.

BJD will undertake a massive plantation drive by creating awareness among people about environment protection. Naveen appointed former Mumbai Police Commissioner and BJD leader Arup Patnaik as convenor of the programme for its implementation.

20 - Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik inaugurated J&K Bazar

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik inaugurated J&K Bazar, a retail showroom of authentic Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts, Handlooms, Silk, Agro-based products and Restaurant serving Authentic Kashmiri Cuisine at J&K House in New Delhi. The newly constructed state-of-the-art showroom is for promoting J&K specific products of handicrafts and authentic cuisine.

The showroom shall cater to the people who cherish the Kashmiri handicraft and relish the traditional Kashmiri food which is now available in the heart of Delhi. Other handicraft products in the showroom include - Paper Mache items, carved walnut-wood items, Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri embroidery sarees.

21 - New Kiln technology in Punjab cuts 70% emissions

In order to follow orders of National Green Tribunal and Central Pollution Control Board, Punjab Government had ordered the closure of traditional kilns in March 2019 to control the toxicity of the NCR National Capital Region. The stubble burning, industrial and kiln smoke from Punjab was harmful for Delhi also.

Punjab has got most of odd polluting brick kilns converted to new Kiln Technology that cuts emissions by 70-80% and saves fuel for users. In the new kilns, the bricks to be baked are arranged in a zigzag pattern thus allowing hot air to cover a longer path.

22 - Shri Arjun Munda launched Van Dhan Internship Programme of TRIFED

Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs launched the “Van Dhan Internship Programme” organised by TRIFED. Under this programme, 18 interns from some of the reputed Institutes of Rural Management will participate in the “Van Dhan Internship Programme and will help the tribal population in becoming entrepreneurs.

These interns will work with the team of TRIFED in various states. They will support the TRIFED activities on livelihood promotion, value addition of NTFTs, marketing and credit linkages. They will develop tools and techniques on institutional development for determination of a just price or producer price of Minor Forset Products.

23 - Manohar Lal sworn-in as Haryana CM for 2^nd term

Senior BJP leader Manohar Lal has been sworn-in as Chief Minister of Haryana for a second consecutive term. Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala was sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister.

Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya administered the oath of office and secrecy at a function at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. In the 90-member assembly, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 40 seats. JJP has won 10 seats and independent 7.

24 - 3-Day Ladakh Literature Festival organised between Oct 29^th and 31^st

Ladakh administration organised a 3-Day Ladakh Literature Festival from 29^th to 31^st October. The first-ever Ladakh Literature festival aimed to celebrate the uniqueness of the region in the fields of Art, Culture and Literature. There was screening of Ladakhi films, discussions on Heritage and presentations on History and Archeology of Ladakh, during the festival.

The Ladakh Literature Festival will be held annually. The festival will witness the transformation of Ladakh from a division to Union Territory.

25 - Gandhinagar becomes first kerosene-free district of Gujarat

Gandhinagar district of Gujarat has become the first Kerosene-free district of the state after Union Home Minister Amit Shah allotted 1000 LPG connections to the women beneficiaries of Gandhinagar district under the Ujjwala Yojana. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has completed the scheme at the cost of 6.13 crore rupees covering more than 75 thousand beneficiaries.

Chandigarh became the first city to become kerosene free. By 2018, over 8 states and Union Territories in the country became kerosene free namely Puducherry, Daman-Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.

26 - UP CM Yogi Adityanath launched Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana

Uttar Pradesh by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana on the occasion of Dhanteras. The programme aims at empowering the girl child for which an amount of Rs 15,000 will be provided to every family in which a girl child takes birth.

Kanya Sumangala scheme has been designed in a way that the state government will direct transfer funds in the account of the registered girls in a phased manner when a girl child will complete various achievements, like vaccination, admission in class 1, 5 and 9, graduation.

27 - New World Bank Project to Support Climate Resilient Agriculture for 125,000 Small holder Farmers in Odisha

The Government of India, Government of Odisha and the World Bank signed a US$165 million loan agreement to support smallholder farmers. The Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture will be implemented in rural areas vulnerable to droughts and largely dependent on rainfed agriculture.

The project will benefit about 125,000 smallholder farmer households from 15 districts of Odisha managing 128,000 ha of agricultural land. The project will strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers against adverse climate. The loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 6-year grace period, and a maturity of 24 years.

28 - J&K's Chenani-Nashri Tunnel renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel

The government has renamed India's longest Chenani-Nashri Tunnel in J&K after Bhartiya Jana Sangh founder 'Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee'. The 'Chenani-Nashri Highway Tunnel' is Asia's longest bi-directional highway tunnel.

The tunnel is 9 km long officially making it the longest road tunnel in India. It is a two-lane main tunnel with a parallel escape tunnel of the same length located at an elevation of 1200 meters. It is located in the lower Himalayan mountain range, between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu & Kashmir.

29 - Assam Cabinet decides to give no government jobs for people with more than 2 children

The Assam Cabinet decided that no government jobs will be given to persons having more than two children after 1 January, 2021. The cabinet also adopted a New Land Policy.

Under the New Land Policy, the government will give three bighas (43,200 sq. ft.) of agricultural land to landless indigenous people and half a bigha for constructing a house. The beneficiary will be able to sell the given land only after 15 years of use.