Daily Current Affairs 19 January 2024 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 19 January 2024 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Ken Betwa Link Project
Source: PIB
GS II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- How it helps
Why in the News?
5th meeting of the Steering Committee of Ken Betwa Link Project Authority was held at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
News in Brief
- Highlighted the importance of project for Bundelkhand region.
- Stressed best construction practices, safeguarding the interest of the environment, and biodiversity along with community development.
- Special emphasis for timely land acquisition for Daudhan Dam and Link Canal was highlighted. Directed to timely completion of all the left out DPR’s.
- All the partners to work in unison to have timely and projected benefits in all quarter.
About Ken Betwa Link Project
- Ken Betwa river project is among the 30 river interlinking projects across the country.
- Work is likely to be completed in eight years.
- To tackle the problem of water scarcity in several regions of the nation, the national government has devised a large-scale plan to connect rivers.
- One of the earliest river interlinking projects in India would be the Ken-Betwa connection project.
- The Project is envisioned under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).
- Bundelkhand area, which is located over the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
- This project seeks to increase the drinking water supply, produce hydropower of 103 MW, and offer yearly irrigation for about 10 lakh hectares.
Financial Support
- The finance minister announced budget allocation of Rs 44,605 crore during 2022-23.
- The fund will support around 9 lakh hectares of farmland.
- Besides drinking water to 62 lakh people, 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power generation.
Phases of the project
- Phase-I: In the first phase of the Ken betwa link pariyojna, the Daudhan dam complex and its appurtenances, such as low-level tunnel, high-level tunnel, 221-kilometre Ken-Betwa link canal and powerhouses will be completed.
- Phase-II: In the second phase of the Ken Betwa linking project,the development works under the Ken betwa link project will be started for the lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage.
Prelims
Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi
News: The Prime Minister visited the Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh, during his 11-day special ritual for the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol at the Ayodhya Ram temple.
- The temple is believed to have preserved the footprints of Goddess Sita.
- The Veerabhadra Temple, also known as the Lepakshi Temple, is located in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.
- The temple was built in 1533 by the Vijayanagara rulers. It is known for its architecture, which includes hanging pillars and cave chambers.
- The temple is dedicated to Virabhadra, a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva.
- The temple’s architectural features are in the Vijayanagara style, with carvings and paintings on almost every exposed surface.
- The main shrine is of Lord Shiva, and there are also shrines to Ganesha and Durga.
Namma Yatri
News: Recently, Namma Yatri debuted in Delhi with 10,000 auto drivers.
- Launched:2020.
- It was launched in Kochi as “Yatri” in 2020.
- Namma Yatri is the first open network mobility application.
- It was built with the idea to provide multi-modal service to commuters without the involvement of any middlemen.
- Auto rickshaws are the first of the many service providers to join this mobility network.
- About Open mobility is an open network where any mode of transport can contribute to providing services to commuters thereby removing the dependency on any third-party organizations.
National Essential Diagnostics List
News: Recently, ICMR started revising the current National Essential Diagnostics List for the first time.
- The list contains the minimum diagnostic tests that should be available at healthcare facilities.
- This NEDL aims to bridge the current regulatory system’s gap that does not cover all medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic devices (IVD).
- ICMR asked stakeholders to submit suggestions on the addition, and deletion of tests by the end of February.
- World Health Organisation (WHO) released the first edition of the Essential Diagnostics List (EDL) in May 2018.
- Indian Council of Medical Research released the first National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) in 2019.
- It includes a group of general laboratory tests for routine patient care and for diagnosis of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival
News: The preparations for recent 9th Edition of Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival is in line.
- It is declared a state festival.
- It centers around wildlife conservation, especially hornbills found in the Pakke Tiger Reserve.
This year, the festival’s theme is Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh which means Let Our Hornbills Remain’
- It is week-long event generates awareness on preserving these iconic birds.
- Activities
- Bird watching tours
- Literary competitions
- Panel discussions
- Tribal music/dance performances
- It forges connections between forests, wildlife and local communities.
- The first festival was organized in 2015.
Chittorgarh Fort
News: The Supreme Court of India has banned the mining of limestone by blasting or using explosives within a five-kilometre radius of the compound wall of Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan.
- Chittorgarh Fort, also known as Chittod Fort,
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- It’s located in the city of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
- The fort was built in the 7th century by arious Maurya rulers.
- It is the largest fort in India.
PM-Kisan scheme
News: According to the recently data, every fourth beneficiary added under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme over the past two months is a woman.
- Launched: 2018.
- Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- It is Central Sector scheme.
- To supplement the financial needs of small and marginal farmers.
- Under the scheme procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities.
- To give a boost to rural consumption.
- To augment government efforts to double farmers’ income by 2022.
- income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal instalments directly transferred to the bank accounts
- Family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children.
Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)
News: Telangana has signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the state capital, Hyderabad.
- C4IR stands for the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- It is an initiative by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish centres that focus on harnessing the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and driving collaboration between governments, businesses, and academia to address global challenges and opportunities.
- The collaboration aims to leverage technology for advancements in the life sciences and healthcare sector, with a focus on reaching healthcare targets for the state’s population.
- Telangana envisions becoming a health tech hub and a global destination for healthcare services.
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