Raipur-Durg Metro Rail Project | Chhattisgarh | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
The Chhattisgarh government has approved the Raipur-Durg Metro Rail Project to boost the socio-economic development of the state capital, Raipur.
Key Points
- About: This initiative is a part of the broader vision to establish a State Capital Region (SCR), modeled after Delhi’s National Capital Region (NCR).
- The SCR aims to integrate key urban areas such as Raipur, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, and the Durg-Bhilai corridor into a unified, well-coordinated urban framework.
- Objectives:
- Efficient Transportation: The metro rail system is designed to enhance the movement of people, reduce road congestion, and streamline transportation within the SCR.
- Regional Infrastructure Development: It will contribute to shared infrastructure development across the region, ensuring more coordinated growth.
- Population Growth: With an anticipated population of over 50 lakh by 2031, the metro system is being developed to cater to the growing demand for reliable and accessible public transportation.
- Funding and Initial Steps: In the 2024-25 state budget, the Chhattisgarh government has allocated an initial sum of ₹5 crore for conducting a comprehensive feasibility survey. This marks the first step toward assessing the project's technical, financial, and operational feasibility.
- Additionally, Raipur Municipal Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation in August 2024 to explore the potential implementation of a light metro system in Raipur.
- Establishment of Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA): To ensure the successful planning and execution of the Raipur-Durg Metro Rail Project, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) is being set up. The CRDA will oversee the development of the State Capital Region (SCR) and ensure that the project is carried out in a coordinated manner.
- Key Functions of the CRDA:
- Urban Planning: The CRDA will be responsible for regulating land use, developing infrastructure, and facilitating investments within the SCR.
- Environmental Management: Ensuring sustainable development will be a core responsibility, with the authority managing environmental concerns across the region.
- Coordination and Implementation: It will play a central role in integrating regional planning with actual implementation, promoting cohesive urban growth.
- Governance Structure: The CRDA will be chaired by the Chief Minister and will include cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and representatives from urban local bodies.
- The authority will guide and monitor the progress of the metro project, ensuring alignment with regional development goals.
- Funding and Budgeting: The CRDA will have the authority to impose a dedicated infrastructure cess to support capital-intensive projects like the metro rail.
- It will also be responsible for preparing annual budgets and submitting regular progress reports to the state government.
Ajay Seth Appointed as Chairman of IRDAI | Bihar | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
Former Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), succeeding Debasish Panda, whose term ended in March 2025.
Key Points
About IRDAI
- About: IRDAI, founded in 1999, is a regulatory body created with the aim of protecting the interests of insurance customers.
- It is a statutory body under the IRDAI Act, 1999, and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance.
- It regulates and sees to the development of the insurance industry while monitoring insurance-related activities.
- The powers and functions of the Authority are laid down in the IRDAI Act, 1999 and Insurance Act, 1938.
- Chairman and Members of Authority: According to Section 4 of the IRDAI Act, 1999, the Authority is composed of ten members, including a Chairman, five whole-time members, and four part-time members, all of whom are appointed by the Government.
Indian Air Force (IAF) Major Air Exercise in Rajasthan | Rajasthan | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is conducting a major air exercise in the border districts of Rajasthan, testing its operational readiness and strategic capabilities.
Key Points
- Duration: Three days (23rd July 2025- 25th July 2025)
- Location: (Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jodhpur)- In Rajasthan near Pakistan border
- Purpose: Testing operational readiness and conducting strategic drills
- Civilian Airspace Restrictions: A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued.
- It results in restricting civilian air traffic, allowing the IAF to conduct operations involving drones, missiles, and other combat aircraft without interference.
- Aircraft Involved: During the exercise, fighter jets such as Rafale, Sukhoi-30, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar are conducting both day and night sorties.
- The drills focus on engaging aerial targets and executing precise ground attacks.
- The exercise involves coordinated operations from key airbases in Jodhpur and Uttarlai in Barmer, with sorties being flown over the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.
- Strategic Significance: The exercise highlights India’s preparedness and capability to respond swiftly to any hostile activity in the region.
Study on Raptor Ecology in Desert National Park | Rajasthan | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
A research initiative focusing on raptor ecology has been launched in the Desert National Park (DNP) and its surrounding areas.
Key Points
- About: This study aims to assess the status and local ecology of breeding raptors in the region. The project, initiated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), started on 21 July 2025, and is set to continue until July 2027.
- The study will focus on the movement and breeding patterns of raptors, with an emphasis on understanding their spatial ecology and conservation needs.
- Methodology: As part of the project, two vultures, a Tawny Eagle and a juvenile Egyptian Vulture, have already been fitted with GPS transmitters and backpack harnesses and released.
- The study also includes collection of biological samples from six individuals each of Red-headed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Tawny Eagle, and Laggar Falcon.
- Legal Framework: The study has been approved under Section 12(A) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, ensuring that it aligns with legal and ethical standards.
- Section 12(A) authorizes the Chief Wild Life Warden to grant, upon application and via a written order, permits to individuals or institutions to conduct scientific research on wildlife.
- Significance:
- Conservation Efforts: To generate vital data that will help inform conservation strategies for these threatened raptor species.
- Raptor Protection: The findings from the study are expected to contribute to the development of measures to safeguard the raptor species and their habitat, particularly in the Thar Desert.
Raptor Species
- About: A raptor is a bird of prey. A bird of prey is a carnivore (meat eater) that kills and eats mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, rodents as well as other birds.
- All raptors have a hooked beak, strong feet with sharp talons, keen eyesight, and a carnivorous diet.
- Population: Indonesia has the most raptor species, followed by Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
- Examples: Owls, vultures, hawks, falcons, eagles, kites, buteos, accipiters, harriers, and osprey.
- Conservation Efforts:
- The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia is also known as Raptors MoU.
- India is also a part of the SAVE (Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction) consortium.
- For the conservation of vultures, India has launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25.
- The Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore (Haryana) is the world’s largest facility within the state’s Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary for the breeding and conservation of Indian vulture species.
Desert National Park
- Geography and Location: It covers 3,162 km² area across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
- It lies in the Thar Desert, a hot and arid region with very low rainfall (<100mm) and features sand dunes, rocky areas, and sandy plains.
- Vegetation and Flora: It is characterized by sparse vegetation, including thorny bushes, grasslands, and dunes. Notable tree species like Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) and various Acacia species support the region's ecosystem.
- Fauna and Biodiversity: The park is home to 60 mammal species, 51 reptile species, and 100 bird species.
- Endemic and endangered species include the Great Indian Bustard, Desert Fox, and the Laungwala Toad-headed Agama. It also hosts migrant birds like the Houbara Bustard.
Gram-Urja Model of Uttar Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
The Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled plans to establish biogas plants in several villages under the Chief Minister's Gram-Urja Model.
Key Points
- About: This initiative aims to set up 2,250 biogas plants as part of a pilot project in the districts of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Gonda.
- Objectives: The primary objective is to localize the production of biogas, which will be directly used by the villagers.
- Expansion Plans & Cost Details: If successful, this pilot project will be expanded to benefit 2.50 lakh rural households over the next four years.
- Each biogas unit is estimated to cost Rs 39,300, with farmers required to contribute only Rs 3,990. The remaining cost will be covered by government subsidies and the carbon credit model.
- This cost-sharing model ensures that the initiative remains financially viable and accessible for rural farmers.
- Approval and Government Support: The project has already received formal approval from the state’s Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, ensuring that the initiative aligns with environmental and climate goals.
- Supporting Infrastructure: In addition to the biogas plants, the government plans to develop cow shelters (Gaushalas) in rural parts of UP.
- These shelters will be constructed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), providing employment opportunities to local villagers.
- In the first phase, 43 Gaushalas will be equipped with biogas and manure production units. Each Gaushala is expected to produce approximately 50 quintals of slurry per month, which will be distributed to nearby farmers as organic manure.
- Significance: It has the potential to cut LPG usage by up to 70% in rural kitchens, significantly reducing environmental impact by lowering dependency on non-renewable energy.
Biogas
- Biogas is a renewable energy source that's produced when organic matter breaks down in the absence of oxygen. This process is called anaerobic digestion.
Rajasthan Government's Initiative for SC Community | Rajasthan | 26 Jul 2025
Why in News?
The Rajasthan government has launched a scheme to offer free rail travel to five historical sites linked to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for Scheduled Caste (SC) residents of Rajasthan, inspired by the 'Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme.'
Key Points
- About: This initiative aims to honor Dr. Ambedkar's legacy by facilitating visits to historical sites linked to his life and work.
- Sites Covered Related to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar:
- Ambedkar’s Birthplace (Mhow, Madhya Pradesh): Bhim Janmabhoomi, a memorial inaugurated on Ambedkar’s 100th birth anniversary, attracts millions of visitors annually, especially on Ambedkar Jayanti (14 April), serving as a hub for social equality and remembrance.
- Deeksha Bhoomi (Nagpur, Maharashtra): This site marks Dr. Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism on 14 October 1956, with over 400,000 followers. It features one of Asia’s largest stupas and hosts the Dhammachakra Pravartan Din celebration, drawing millions of attendees each year.
- Mahaparinirvana Bhoomi (Delhi/Alipur Road): The place where Dr. Ambedkar attained “Mahaparinirvana” on 6 December 1956. The memorial, designed to resemble the Indian Constitution, combines modern and Buddhist architectural elements, symbolizing his legacy.
- Chaitya Bhoomi (Mumbai, Maharashtra): Dr. Ambedkar’s cremation site, a symbol of hope and unity for marginalized communities. It serves as a central gathering point for Ambedkarite and Neo-Buddhist movements.
- Indu Mill Memorial (Mumbai): The former Indu Mill site in Dadar is being developed into a grand memorial, featuring a 350ft bronze statue and Buddhist-inspired architecture, symbolizing Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and providing an educational landmark.
- Scheme Benefits: All expenses related to travel, accommodation, and food will be borne by the state government.
- Application Process: Applicants will undergo a review process conducted by a district-level committee.
- Selection Process: If applicants exceed available slots, selection will be made via a computerized lottery or another transparent method, with results published on the official departmental website and information portal.
- Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be Rajasthan residents from the SC community, non-income taxpayers, hold a Jan Aadhar card, and not suffer from contagious diseases (e.g., COVID-19, TB).
