Bihar Affairs
State needs more funds to boost industries: Experts
Trade, commerce and bodies inBihargave a mixed response to Rs1,643.74 croreBudgetallocations for industries and investments for fiscal 2022-23.
Bihar Chamberof Commerce and Industries (BCCI) chairman PK Agarwal said it should have been more industries. He said in the pre-budget meeting, a demand was made to increase the budget allocation for the state industries sector, so that their claims could be settled. He said there was a need to form an industrial development fund and create a land bank. Agarwal, however, said the positive thing in the Budget was setting up 151 ethanol factories, which will boost Economic Development and generate EMPLOYMENT. Solar street lights in all villages, creation of portal for monitoring schemes and a mega Skill development centre in every district is a welcome step. The decision to set up tool rooms in every division is also encouraging, Agarwal said.
Bihar Industries Association (BIA) secretary general Ashish Rohatgi told TOI that the industries budget was not as per the expectations of the trade bodies. An amount of Rs 1,643 crore is lesser as per our estimation of the subsidies which has already been announced and pending with the government. We expected around Rs3,000-4,000 crore for the industries. But the positive side is the increase in the total Budget size even in pandemic times, he said.
Groundwater in 30,000 wards polluted in Bihar: PHED report
A latest report of the public Health and engineering department (PHED) has found groundwater polluted in 30,207 village wards across the state. However, the government has installed water purification equipment in those areas and is now supplying purified water to the villagers to save them from health complications.
According to the report, there are 21,709 wards across the state where the iron content in groundwater is more than the permissible limits. Similarly, arsenic and fluoride contents in groundwater are more than the permissible limits in 4,709 and 3,789 wards, respectively. Health experts say the overload of iron, fluorosis and arsenic in water may cause severe health problems such as cancer, cirrhosis of liver, heart problems, weakening of bones, deformities, and skin lesions.
Similarly, pure piped water is being supplied in 98.68 percent areas (4,647 wards) having arsenic contents and 99.76 percent of the region (3,780 wards) affected with heavy fluoride contents in the groundwater.
The report says there are several arsenic-hit wards in Buxar, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Begusarai, Patna and Bhagalpur districts where piped water is reaching, while clean potable water is being supplied to several fluoride-affected wards across Munger, Nawada, West Champaran, Begusarai and Lakhisarai districts.
National and International Affairs
Free medical camp marks National Safety Day celebrations
A free Health camp was conducted for the workers and supervisory staff involved in the works related to the water conveyor system under the Kaleshwaram lift Irrigation project at Namapur village in Pegadapalli mandal of Jagtial district.
According to a press release, the free health camp was conducted by the executing agency concerned on the occasion of the National Safety Day.
More than 300 persons availed the free Services offered by a team of doctors at the medical camp.
NCB to hire experts, firms to help in probe into drug crimes
The Control Bureau (NCB) will hire experts and firms dealing with financial data analysis and forensic audit to augment its probe in sophisticated drug crimes that involve use of the dark web, cryptocurrencies and deals concealed through layered transactions.
The NCB has issued a notice for empanelment of consultancy agencies which would be required to help it in “unearthing the chain of transactions for drug Money and provide effective guidance in financial investigation matters.”
The experts will also assist NCB sleuths in conducting forensic audits, scrutiny of reports and documents and analysing bank statements, and property transactions to unearth the illegal income of an accused, associates and family members.
NariShakti Varta
UNICEF YuWaah facilitated the NaariShakti conversation, on STEM and Financial Literacy for Young Women. STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The event was part of the Ministry of Women and Child Developments Iconic Week celebrating International Womens Day under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani participated in the event.
YuWaah is a UNICEF-initiated multi-stakeholder global platform. It aims to prepare young people to transition from Education and Learning to productive work and active .
New intitatives for plastic waste :Sambhav and Svavlamban
Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives were launched by Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs),Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, at the International Summit on Plastics Recycling and Waste Management.
The Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives and the summit will have multiple benefits i.e. formalizing the informal waste sector, job creation in the MSME sector, and reduction in plastic waste.
These initiatives aim to encourage young entrepreneurs, especially from the aspirational districts of India.
India, US hold 19th military cooperation meeting to boost defence engagements
The two-day-long 19th military cooperation meeting between India and the US has ended in Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the DEFENCE Ministry stated.
The India-US military cooperation group is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Defence Ministry mentioned.
China hikes military spending by 7.1%, announces 5.5% GDP target
China announced a 7.1% hike in its DEFENCE spending as well as an annual GDP Growth target of around 5.5% for the coming year.
Chinas Premier and second-ranked leader Li Keqiang announced the GDP target at the opening of the week-long session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) or Parliament, which approves policies for the coming year.
A draft budget, which the NPC will approve, said defence spending would be hiked by 7.1% to 1.45 trillion Yuan or around $ 230 billion. The military budget was hiked by 6.8% last year when it crossed the $200 billion mark for the first time. Indias military spending this year was announced as around $70 billion, a 4.4% hike from the previous year, although a greater share of Indias defence spending goes towards imports and pensions.
No permission needed to develop infra on forest areas: Green Min to Rlys
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change has clarified that the railways does not need to seek permission to develop Infrastructure on its land in forest areas, after its contradictory orders on the issue created confusion in many states.
This paves the way for the national transporter to execute infrastructure projects even in sensitive forest areas without seeking permission from the Centre.
DGCA nod for HALs new plane Hindustan 228-201
In a boost to aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has approved a new variant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s aircraft ‘Hindustan 228-201 LW.’
Giving details of the nod, the public sector aerospace conglomerate said on Monday, this variant has maximum take-off weight of 5,695 kg with 19 passenger capability. With this modification, the aircraft would fall in the Sub 5,700 kg aircraft category, the Hal said.
E-Sanjeevani app’s 10 cr reach reflects power of India’s digital revolution
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the contribution made by E-Sanjeevani app towards treating 10 crore patients by way of tele and video consultations as he spoke on various issues including Swachh Bharat Mission, Tribeni Kumbh Mahotsav, and Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award.
The Prime Minister said the country has seen that in the time of Corona, E-Sanjeevani played a pivotal role in giving contact less treatment to the virus affected patients.
Centre directs States to expedite energy efficiency activities in mission mode
The Centre and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) have directed state governments to expedite energy efficiency activities on a mission mode.
In accordance with the Government of Indias policy to increase energy efficiency and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by achieving the countrys <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change targets (Panchamrit), the Union Ministry of Power-led BEE has emphasized the need for all state designated agencies to engage deeply in the energy efficiency movement on a mission mode.
1D Wormhole Corrosion : New Form Of Corrosion
This type of corrosion is characterized by a wormhole-like 1D morphology that can serve as a mass-flow pathway.
The discovery of this type of corrosion is significant for the understanding of material degradation mechanisms in molten salt environments, particularly in relation to next-generation nuclear power Plants that use molten salts as coolants.
The 1D wormhole corrosion is a highly localized form of penetrating corrosion that occurs in a nickel-chromium Alloy when exposed to molten fluoride salt.