Bihar Affairs
The state cabinet on Friday approved the governments proposal to raise a loan of Rs2,000 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to be used on the construction of 20.5-km-long J P Ganga Path between Digha and Deedarganj along the Ganga atPatna.
The transport departments proposal to give relief in penalty and interest charged on the owners of different kind of vehicles concerned, if they made payment of road tax and other dues in one instalment, was also cleared. The vehicle owners could not make timely payment of taxes due to the lockdown arising from Covid-19. Similarly, relief will be provided to the owners of the rickety or 15-year-old vehicles, if they decided to end the registration and also dispose of their vehicles.
The cabinet approved the proposal to increase the annual income limit from Rs1.5 lakh to Rs2.5 lakh for the availing of post-matric Scholarship to the students from the backward and extremely backward classes.
National and International Affairs
Rail Madad Launched by Indian Railways
An integrated one-stop solution Rail Madad was launched by Indian Railways in which the national transporter has merged a number of existing helplines that were used for various purposes into one.
Highlights:
The Ministry of Railways toll-free number 139 can be used for all kinds of enquiries and making complaints and the helpline facility is available all the time in 12 languages.
Rail Madad, the integrated and innovative one-stop solution for enquiry, customer grievance, suggestion and assistance, providing passengers with the choice to access RailMadad through multiple channels, namely, Web, App, SMS, Social Media and also Helpline number (139) during the journey for expeditious resolution of their complaints.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Train – Indian Railways
Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuels (IROAF) inviting bids for Hydrogen Fuel Cell-based Train on the Indian Railways Network.
Highlights:
The project is expected to kick off the concept of Hydrogen Mobility in the country. First, the bids are invited for 89km of the Sonipat-Jind section of the Northern RAILWAY. The project is expected to bring in annual of Rs.2.3 crores.
Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries and National Hydrogen Mission are two flagship programs of the Government of India to help meet the targets of reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emission under the Paris Climate Agreement 2015 and Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway by 2030.
Book Named The Earthspinner by Anuradha Roy
A book named The Earthspinner authored by award-winning novelist Anuradha Roy.
Highlights:
In this book, Anuradha delves into the life and mind of Elango the potter, who must navigate impossible and complicated love, the dedication of a beloved pet, his own passion for creativity and a globe turned upside down by the petty violence that characterises the present day.
The novel is about two people struggling to free themselves of such shackles to create the happiest world. Roys earlier works include An Atlas of Impossible Longing and The Folded Earth.
Study on Pensilungpa Glacier
The study on Pensilungpa Glacier was conducted by scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun. By this study, Pensilungpa Glacier in the Zanskar region of Ladakh is retreating. Their field observations over four years (2015-19) showed that the glacier is now retreating at an Average rate of 6.7 metres per annum.
The study has attributed this to a decrease in and an increase in the temperature during winter.
The study points at the important influence of debris cover on the mass balance and also retreat of the Glaciers endpoint, especially in summer.
The study suggests that due to continuous rise in the air temperature in line with the global trend, the melting would increase, and it is possible that the precipitation of summer periods at higher altitudes will change from snow to rain, and that may influence the summer and winter patterns.
First Indian PM to Chair UNSC Debate
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate through video conferencing.
Highlights:
With this, PM Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to chair a UNSC open debate. It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France.
The theme of the open debate was Enhancing Maritime Security A Case for International Cooperation. India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.
During the debate, The 5 principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included: free maritime trade sans barriers; peaceful settlement of maritime disputes; combating maritime threats; encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and preserving maritime Environment and Resources.