16.12.22 Daily [bihar] BPSC Current Affairs

An unexpectedly large number of (I-T) payers have been found availing the benefits ofPradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme inBiharwhile it was launched to supplement the financial needs of landholding farmers to ensure proper crop Health and appropriate yields. The startling revelations have been made in the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India tabled on the floor of the State Legislature.

The PM-KISAN scheme with 100 percent central government funding operated through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode was launched in February 2019. Under the scheme, the Centre provides income support of Rs6,000 per annum to all eligible farmer families in three equal instalments of Rs2,000 every four months. However, the responsibility for identification of beneficiaries and ensuring correctness of their details lies with the state governments.

It added that in at least 10 districts, inadmissible benefits amounting to Rs23.59 crore were paid to 22,301 minor beneficiaries as the applications for benefits under the scheme didnt capture the age of beneficiary on the cutoff date, i.e. February 01, 2019. The districts include Banka, Darbhanga, Jamui, Khagaria, Madhubani, East Champaran, Purnia,Saharsa,Saranand Siwan.

The report further stated that contrary to the scheme guideline, three beneficiaries who were in government jobs/pensioners received 18 instalments. It also said benefits of this scheme were extended to some farmers even after their deaths while many beneficiaries availed the scheme benefits even though they didnt have agricultural or cultivable land.

The CAG report has also wondered over rather slow pace of grievance redressal. According to the report, during the past 31 months since the beginning of the scheme in February 2019, only 9,408 of the grievances (23%) could be resolved.

Ministry of Power had constituted a high-level committee under Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority with representatives from Corporation of India, Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, National Institute of Solar Energy, and National Institute of Wind Energy for planning the transmission system required for having 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based installed capacity by 2030.

The Committee prepared a detailed Plan titled Transmission System for Integration of over 500 GW RE Capacity by 2030″ in consultation with States and other stakeholders. The Plan is a major step towards achievement of the goal of integrating 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based capacity by 2030 by providing broad plan of required transmission system for having 537 GW of RENEWABLE ENERGY capacity by the year 2030.

The Plan has identified major upcoming non-fossil fuel based generation centres in the country, which include Fatehgarh, Bhadla, Bikaner in Rajasthan, Khavda in Gujarat, Anantapur, Kurnool RE Zones in Andhra Pradesh, offshore wind potentials in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, RE park in Ladakh etc. and based on these potential generation centres, transmission systems have been planned.

Indiahas emerged as one of the world leaders in energy transition with the fastest rate of Growth of renewable energy capacities in the world. India has huge ambitions in energy transition and plans to have 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based electricity installed capacity by 2030, so that cleaner fuel comprises of 50%of the installed capacity mix by 2030.

Amid a row over the status of Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela among the major stadia across the globe, the Odisha government on Friday claimed that it is the world’s largest facility in terms of seating capacity and it was certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).The Rourkela facility will host the Men’s World Cup Hockey, organised by the FIH, along with Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Department had launched the SMILE scheme , however the modalities of the implementation of the scheme namely SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise are under consideration.

The institution said that the government is expected to meet the target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23.

The World Bank saw the government meeting the fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23. It expected Inflation to be 7.1 per cent in current fiscal year.

The country however remains affected by spillovers from the US, Euro area and China. The World Bank saw the government meeting the fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP in 2022-23. It expected inflation to be 7.1 per cent in current fiscal year.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying into space the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft.

The Rashid Rover was built by Dubais Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and is being delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander, engineered by Japanese lunar exploration company ispace. If the landing is successful, HAKUTO-R will also become the first commercial spacecraft ever to make a controlled landing on the moon.

The Rashid Rover, named after the late Sheikh Rashid Al Saeed, the former ruler of Dubai, will analyze the plasma on the lunar surface and conduct experiments to understand more about lunar dust. Razor-sharp lunar dust particles can stick to and erode spacesuits and equipment, causing operational problems for astronauts.