National
Aadi Mahotsav - the National Tribal Festival at Ahmedabad
⇒ Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the Aadi Mahotsav at Ahmedabad on 25 October 2023 and paid a reverent tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Organized by:
The 10-day mega event was organized by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, from 25th October – 3rd November, 2023, at Ahmedabad Haat, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad.
Theme:
The theme of the festival was ‘Celebration of Tribal Entrepreneurship, Crafts, Culture and Commerce’.
Key Points:
- The Aadi Mahotsav featured the exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, art, paintings, fabric, jewellery, cuisine and much more through 100 stalls.
- In this event, more than 200 tribal artisans and artists from across the country participated in the festival.
- Among the major highlights were the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras which were displaying and selling their products.
- This Aadi Mahotsav, besides other attractions of handicrafts, handloom, pottery, jewellery, showcased ‘Millets grown by Tribals’.
» The Aadi Mahotsav serves as a unique, symbiotic bridge to embark on a journey through the tapestry of India’s indigenous heritage. The festival is a conglomeration of a mini-India under one roof.
Accreditation of the Schools App and Mobile Application (NIPUN) launched
⇒ Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar dedicated 124 PM-Shri schools to Haryana on 25th October 2023 at Rohtak.
- These schools will have ICT labs and Smart Classrooms also.
- Apart from these, the Ministers also launched the Accreditation of the Schools app and Mobile Application (NIPUN).
- Books and Learning Materials for Balvatika-3rd were also be unveiled.
IFFCO's Nano DAP (Liquid) plant at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
⇒ Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated IFFCO’s Nano DAP (Liquid) Plant at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 24 October 2023.
Union Minister of Cooperation said that IFFCO has set up pan-India plants in a very modern manner. There can be no greater example of Make in India than this.
- IFFCO’s Kalol unit will produce about 42 lakh bottles of green technology based Nano DAP.
- Nano Urea is sprayed not on the ground but on the plants and due to this, there is a zero possibility of destruction of natural elements or the earthworms present in the soil.
- If all the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) use Nano Urea and Nano DAP in partnership with IFFCO then very soon our land will move towards natural farming.
Approval of inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP)
⇒ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under PMKSY-AIBP of Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in October 2023.
- The CCEA has approved central support of Rs 1,557.18 crore to Uttarakhand for completion of the project with estimated cost of Rs 2,584.10 crore by March, 2028.
Key Points:
- The project envisages construction of a dam near Jamrani village across river Gola, a tributary of river Ram Ganga, in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The dam would feed the existing Gola barrage, through its 40.5 km length of canal system and 244 km long canal system, which was completed in 1981.
- The project envisages additional irrigation of 57,065 ha (9,458 ha in Uttarakhand and 47,607 ha in Uttar Pradesh) in Nainital & Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand, and Rampur & Bareilly districts in Uttar Pradesh.
- Apart from construction of two new feeder canals, 207 km of existing canals are to be renovated and 278 km pucca field channels are also to be taken up under the project.
- In addition, the project also envisages hydro power generation of 14 MW, as well as provision of 42.70 million cubic metre (MCM) of drinking water to Haldwani and nearby areas benefitting more than 10.65 lakh population.
- A substantial part of irrigation benefits of the project would flow to the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, and cost/ benefit sharing between the two States is to be done as per an MoU signed in 2017.
- However, drinking water and power benefits shall be available entirely to Uttarakhand.
Background:
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during the year 2015-16, with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc.
- Government of India has approved implementation of PMKSY during 2021-26 with an overall outlay of Rs 93,068.56 crore (central assistance of Rs 37,454 crore).
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component of PMKSY is for creation of irrigation potential through major and medium irrigation projects. So far 53 projects have been completed under PMKSY-AIBP and additional irrigation potential of 25.14 lakh hectare has been created.
- Six projects have been included after AIBP component of PMKSY 2.0 since 2021-22.
- Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is seventh project to be included in the list.
Important Day
62nd Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Raising Day
⇒ The 62nd Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Raising Day was observed on October 24, 2023, in honour of the services and achievements of troops, who guard the frontiers of India from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
- This celebratory day was of paramount importance to the nation’s defence forces.
History:
- Raised on October 24, 1962 to guard the India-China border, it was formerly known as a guerrilla force because of the nature of duty assigned to it.
- Initially having a strength of only four battalions, the force now has expanded to 56 service battalions, four specialised battalions, four National Disaster Response Force battalions and 13 training centres, that are controlled by 15 sector headquarters, five frontier headquarters and two commands.
- The force guards the high-altitude Himalayan border extending over 3,488 kms from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to the Lipulekh Pass in Arunachal Pradesh, including the India-Nepal-China Trijunction.