Bihar Affairs
Bihar seeks Rs 20,000 crore for infra, 1% hike in fiscal deficit limit
Biharhas urged the Centre to allot Rs 20,000 crore in the 2023-24 Union budget for development and creation of assets in the state and suggested 90:10 ratio of the central and state Shares of funding for the centrally sponsored schemes (CSS). The state also suggested to the Centre to increase the state’s Fiscal Deficit to 4% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP).
Similarly, Choudhary suggested that the Cess and Surcharge collected by the Centre should be included in the central divisible pool to transfer a part of it to the states.
Noting that the central fiscal deficit has been periodically increased in the past far beyond 6%, Choudhary said the Centre should permit the state to have its fiscal deficit 1% more than the mandatory 3% of the GSDP for a backward state like Bihar.
Choudhary said the Centre had provided Rs12,000 crore under Bihar specific plan (BSP) in the 2012 Budget for use in Infrastructure Development and on the creation of assets.
While 95% of the BSP fund provided in 2012 had been utilised, another chunk of Rs20,000 crore should be allotted in the forthcoming Union budget as BSP-Phase II, Choudhary said.
The minister also included a memorandum of the demands of the state. He asked for the transfer to the State Government the central fund meant for the repair and maintenance of thePMGSYroads, also separate allotment for the state to be used on the linking of panchayats, villages and haats/bazaars with the district headquarters.
Further, Choudhary demanded one-nation, one-tariff in the power sector and permission to raise Money from the specific fund ofNABARDfor use by the power distribution companies for fixing smart prepaid meters.
National and International Affairs
Road accidents linked to fog claimed 13,372 lives in 2021
Road accidents caused due to foggy and misty weather conditions claimed 13,372 lives in 2021 and another 25,360 were left injured more than half were grievously injured. Among states and UTs,Uttar Pradeshrecorded a maximum of 3,782 fatalities, followed by Bihar (1,800) andMadhya Pradesh(1,233) on this account. Goa, and Lakshadweep did not report any road death due to this reason.
As per the latest report titled Road Accidents in India published by the road transport ministry, among the million-plus cities, all the top six cities reporting high number of such fatalities were from UP. While Kanpur reported a maximum of 173 fatalities, Agra recorded 108 deaths and the other cities that saw a high number of deaths werePrayagraj(97), Ghaziabad (91) Lucknow (67) and Varanasi (56).Patnaalso recorded 56 such deaths.
India, ADB sign $125 million loan to improve Urban Services in Tamil Nadu
The Government of India and Asian (ADB) today signed a $125 million loan to develop Climate-resilient sewage collection and treatment, and drainage and water supply systems in three cities in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The signatories to the tranche 3 loan for Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program were Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance who signed for the Government of India, and Hoe Yun Jeong, Officer-in-Charge of ADBs India Resident Mission who signed for ADB.
The financing is the third and the last tranche of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Program approved by ADB in 2018 to build priority water supply, sewerage, and drainage Infrastructure in strategic industrial corridors across 10 cities in the state. The tranche 3 loan covers Coimbatore, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.
Ministry of Rural Development launches Prajjwala Challenge inviting ideas, solutions and actions to transform rural economy
With an aim to invite ideas, solutions and actions that can transform rural economy, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) has launched the Prajjwala Challenge. It is one of the platforms where ideas are invited from individuals, Social Enterprises, Start up, Private Sector, Civil Society, Community Based Organization, Academic Institution, Start-ups, Incubation centres, Investors etc having potential to transform the rural economy.
DAY-NRLM is one of the flagship <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/POVERTY-alleviation”>Poverty Alleviation programs of the Ministry of Rural Development, which aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihoods enhancements and improved access to financial Services.
UNESCO heritage sites tentative list: Sun Temple & Vadnagar town Rock cut sculpture added
Three new cultural sites in India, including the iconic Sun Temple at Modhera, historic Vadnagar town in Gujarat, and rock-cut relief sculptures of Unakoti in Tripura, have been added to the tentative list of UNESCO . The UNESCO website describes a tentative list as an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination.
The Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat, is dedicated to Surya Dev and is situated on the left bank of the Pushpavati River, a tributary of the River Rupan. It is the earliest of such temples, setting trends in architectural and decorative features and perfectly illustrating the Solanki style. Itscomponentsthe main temple shrine (garbhagriha), a hall (gadhamandapa), an outer hall or assembly hall (Sabhamandapa or rangamandapa), and a sacred pool (Kunda), now known as Ramakundaare all built in the Marugurjara architectural style. This eastfacingtemple is built of bright yellow sandstone.