National
First woman officer to be deployed at Siachen
⇒ Capt Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed in Kumar Post, post completion of arduous training, at the highest battlefield of the world Siachen. Capt Shiva Chauhan from Rajasthan is a Bengal Sapper.
Other Points:
- The Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, had opened its doors to tourists in 2019 under the guidance of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
- The minister on October 21, 2019, inaugurated a strategically located bridge across the Shyok River which provides easy connectivity with the Daulat Beg Oldi sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The Siachen area is now open for tourists and tourism.
Ahmedabad Sabarmati Riverfront Flower Show 2023
⇒ The Ahmedabad Sabarmati Riverfront Flower Show 2023 began on January 1, 2023 and for more than ten wonderful days reintroduced the perfume of newly blossomed flowers to Ahmedabad.
Organised by:
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) organises the flower show at Sabarmati Riverfront which attracts large number of visitors, tourist and locals.
Key Points:
- The Ahmedabad Flower Show has become one more unique attraction of the city, people look for.
- This annual event was started in 2013 with an aim to make people aware about horticulture, nature and environment.
- The Ahmedabad Flower Show usually runs for two weeks.
- Citizens are educated on the subjects like how to do roof top gardening, prepare garden in office, net house, kitchen gardening etc.
- Various varieties of seasonal and exotic flowers, plants, saplings, vegetable plants, bonsai, cactus and flowers from around the world are displayed.
- The show offers colourful view of replicas of giraffes, butterflies, deer, flamingos, peacocks, Mickey Mouse and other animals and birds made from flowers.
- People can buy flower plants, fertilizers and tools for gardening and horticultural usage. Various painting competitions for children is organised to make them aware about nature.
Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission
⇒ The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- The initial outlay for the Mission will be Rs 19,744 crore, including an outlay of Rs 17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme, Rs 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs 400 crore for R&D, and Rs 388 crore towards other Mission components.
The Mission will result in the following likely outcomes by 2030:
- Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
- Over Rs Eight lakh crore in total investments
- Creation of over Six lakh jobs
- Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs One lakh crore
- Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions
Benefits:
- The Mission will have wide ranging benefits- creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives; Decarbonisation of industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creation of employment opportunities; and development of cutting-edge technologies.
- The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.
Greenfield International Airport Mopa, Goa renamed as ‘Manohar International Airport – Mopa, Goa
⇒ The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for naming of Greenfield International Airport Mopa, Goa as ‘Manohar International Airport – Mopa, Goa’.
- The Greenfield Airport at Mopa, Goa has been inaugurated by Prime Minister in December, 2022.
- The Airport has been named as a mark of tribute to Late Shri Manohar Parrikar, Ex-Defence Minister and Four-time Goa Chief Minister.
Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND)
⇒ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND) at a cost of Rs 2,539.61 crore for infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Key Points:
- The “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” scheme of the Ministry is the vehicle for providing financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses related to expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development and civil work related to the organization.
- The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE, border and strategic areas and provide high quality content to the viewers.
- At present, Doordarshan operates 36 TV channels including 28 regional channels and All India Radio operates more than 500 broadcasting centres. The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively.
- The Scheme also envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote, tribal, LWE and border areas.
About Prasar Bharati:
- Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information, education, entertainment and engagement for the people especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Review meeting for the status of Kala-Azar disease
⇒ Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting with State Governments to review elimination of Kala-Azar from the country by 2023 on 04 January 2023.
» Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the status of Kala-Azar disease in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- During the meeting the Union Minister said that India is committed to eliminating Kala Azar from the country by 2023.
- 632 (99.8%) endemic blocks have already achieved elimination status (<1 case/10,000).
- Only one block (Littipara) of Pakur district, Jharkhand is in the endemic category (1.23 case/10,000 population).
Other Points:
- About 90% of global cases of kala Azar were reported from eight countries: Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan in 2021, with India contributing 11.5% of total cases reported globally.
- Kala-azar is endemic in 633 blocks of 54 districts in four endemic states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Currently more than 90% of the Kala-azar cases are contributed by Bihar and Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh (2019) and West Bengal (2017) states have achieved their elimination targets at the block level.