• 14 Mar 2024

Asian Development Bank Approves Funding Developmental Projects in Tehri

Why in News?

Recently, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a funding of Rs 1,294 crore for various development projects in Tehri district.

Key Points

• The projects will be funded in a ratio of 80:20 with ADB bearing 80% of the expenditure and the Uttarakhand government bearing 20% of the expenses.
• In order to promote a sustainable, inclusive and climate resilient tourism development of designated areas in Tehri, the state government decided to develop the Tehri dam reservoir and surrounding areas as a special tourist area.
  • After which the Tehri Special Area Development Authority (TADA) was established under the Tehri Special Area Development Act, 2013.
  • This was followed by a series of consultations with the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India and proposals to ADB, which has now fructified with a project management unit to oversee the implementation of the entire project.
• Seven projects have been identified to be accomplished on priority basis which include
  • A 15.7 kilometre tourism road from Koti Colony to Dobra Chanthi bridge which will have dedicated cycling track, view points and dedicated hawker area,
  • A 450 metre glass bottom pedestrian suspension bridge from Koti Colony to Tiwar village,
  • A cultural haat and Uttarakhand architecture theme park at Dobra-Chanthi,
  • Upgradation of village infrastructure at Tiwar village and new ropeway project at Tipri-Madan Negi.
• The project is aimed at development of tourism infrastructure with focus also on enhancement of green cover, livelihood generation, solid and liquid waste management and minimal disruption to the natural and socio-cultural environment.
• A total of 56 positions have been sanctioned for the project including engineers, architects, environment experts, gender experts and community experts who will ensure that the developmental activities are in line with internationally accepted environmental and socio-cultural standards.
• The overall project will also include smart infrastructure improvement with interventions like weather monitoring system, environmental data collection and establishment of an integrated command control centre.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• ADB, established in 1966 is owned by 68 members-49 from the region.
•  It is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
• Further, it assists members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.
• It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.
• As of 31^st December, 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
• It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

UCC in Uttarakhand Gets President's Assent

Why in News?

The Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly has become a law with President Droupadi Murmu giving her assent to it.

• Uttarakhand is the first state in the country after Independence to adopt the UCC.

Key Points

• The President gave her assent to the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 under Article 201 of the Constitution of India.
• UCC will play an important role in promoting harmony by proving the importance of social equality.
• With its implementation in the state alongside providing equal rights to all citizens, the oppression of women will also be curbed.

Uniform Civil Code

• The Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• These principles are not legally enforceable but are meant to guide the state in making policies.
  • It has been supported by some as a way to promote national integration and gender justice, but opposed by others as a threat to religious freedom and diversity.
• The only state in India that has a UCC is Goa, which retained its common family law known as the Goa Civil Code after it was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961.
• The rest of India follows different personal laws based on their religious or community identity.

Article 201

• It states that when a Bill is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President may assent to or withhold assent from the Bill.
• The President may also direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State for reconsideration.

Jharkhand Introduces Schemes For Higher Education

Why in News?

At the inauguration ceremony held at Ranchi's Tana Bhagat Stadium,Jharkhand Chief Minister introduced two schemes aimed at enhancing students' access to higher education.

• The two schemes are the Guruji Student Credit Card and the Manki Munda Scholarship.

Key Points

• Under the Guruji Student Credit Card scheme, students can avail collateral-free education loans of up to Rs 15 lakh with an annual interest rate of 4%.
  • Repayment of the loan begins one year after the completion of the course, with the government serving as the guarantor.
• Under the Manki Munda Scholarship scheme, girl students will receive Rs 15,000 per annum for diploma courses and Rs 30,000 per annum for engineering courses.
• He also mentioned the Mukhyamantri Shiksha Protsahan Yojna, a scheme providing a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 to students.
  • This stipend aims to alleviate living expenses during coaching, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede educational pursuits.
• The chief minister inaugurated a newly built 3D theatre at the regional science centre in Ranchi, further stressing on the government's commitment to promoting education and innovation in the state.

Mukhyamantri Shiksha Protsahan Yojna

• This Scheme offers free coaching for students preparing for National Level Competitive Examinations like JEE, NEET, CLAT, NHMCET, NIFT-CET etc.
• The students will also receive a monthly assistance amount of Rs. 2500/- for the entire course period.
• Selection of students will be based on their Class 10th marks and admission to coaching institutions will be on a first come first serve basis.

Chhattisgarh Government Transfers Funds Under ‘Krishak Unnati’ Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, Chhattisgarh Government launched the ‘Krishak Unnati Yojna’ to provide input assistance to farmers, mainly paddy cultivators and released ₹13,320 crore to 2.472 million farmers under the scheme.

Key Points

• The paddy procurement for the 2023-24 kharif season was held between November 1 and February 4, and around 145 lakh Metric Tonnes (MT) of paddy was procured from over 2.4 million farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
  • The MSP for common grade paddy was ₹2183 per quintal and ₹2203 for Grade A paddy.
  • The difference amount over the MPS was given to farmers as input assistance at the rate of ₹917 per quintal.
• The state government also gave an outstanding paddy bonus for two years (2014-15 and 2015-16) worth ₹3,716 crore to the farmers on the occasion of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday in December 2023.

Note

Rice varieties are classified as 'Grade A' and 'Common' based on shape length:breadth (L:B ratio) for fixing the procurement price of paddy and for trading of milled rice.

Gartang Gali

Why in News?

Gartang Gali in Uttarakhand was used as a Silk Road trade route between India and Tibet.

Key Points

• It is located in the Nelong Valley in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. It also stands out as a unique tourist attraction.
• Situated in the remote corners of Uttarakhand, Gartang Gali offers a secluded retreat away from the bustling tourist circuits.
  • It's off-the-beaten-path location appeals to travellers seeking authentic experiences and tranquility amidst nature.
  • The village is inhabited by the Bhotiya tribe, an indigenous community known for their resilience, traditional way of life, and cultural heritage.
• Gartang Gali historically served as a crucial trade route connecting the Indian subcontinent with Tibet and Central Asia.
• Traders traversed through this mountain pass, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural influences between different regions.
• The Gartang Gali cliff-side hanging-stairway, also known as the Gartang Gali bridge, spans 500 metres along a vertical ridge at 11,000 feet in the Nelang river valley.
  • It was constructed in traditional native style, initially by Pathan traders from Peshawar, serving as a Silk Road trade route between Tibet and India.
  • Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, access was restricted by the Indian military, causing the bridge to fall into disrepair.
  • After India reopened the area for tourism in 2015, efforts were made to restore the wooden stairway using traditional methods.
  • After 59 years, the bridge was reopened to the public in August 2021.

The Silk Road

• It was a network of ancient commercial routes that connected East and West from China to the Mediterranean Sea and served as a major conduit for cultural exchange.
• The flourishing traffic in Chinese silk that took place across its length beginning in the Han era (207 BCE – 220 CE) gave rise to the term "Silk Road". Around 114 BCE, the Han dynasty extended the trade routes through Central Asia, primarily as a result of the travels and missions of Zhang Qian, a Chinese imperial envoy.
• As a result of trade along the Silk Road, long-distance political and economic ties between the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa, and Arabia were established.
• Although silk was undoubtedly the main export from China, the Silk Routes also saw the exchange of several other items, as well as syncretic ideas, numerous technology, religions, and diseases. The Silk Road was used by the civilizations along its network to conduct cultural exchange alongside commercial trade.

Bhotiya tribe

• The Bhotia or Bhotiya are an occupational caste of shepherds.
• The Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand are scattered over the seven main river valleys in the three border districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.
• The seven major Bhotiya groups in Uttarakhand are the Johari, Darmiya, Chaudansi, Byansi, Marchha (Mana Valley), Tolchha (Niti Valley) and Jadh.

Nayab Singh Saini is Haryana’s new Chief Minister

Why in News?

Recently, Nayab Singh Saini, was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Haryana after Manohar Lal and his Council of Ministers resigned as the strained ruling coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) broke apart.

Key Points

• The new Chief Minister inducted five MLAs, including an independent, into the Cabinet.
• Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to all of them.
• The MLAs include Kanwar Pal, Mool Chand, Banwari Lal, Jai Parkash Dalal — all from the BJP — and Ranjit Singh (Independent).

Coalition Government

• The term ‘coalition’ is derived from the Latin world ‘coalitio’ which means ‘to grow together’.
• Thus, technically, coalition means the act of uniting parts into one body or whole. Politically, coalition means an alliance of distinct political parties.
• Coalition usually occurs in modern parliaments when no single political party can muster a majority of votes.
• Two or more parties, who have enough elected members between them to form a majority, may then be able to agree on a common programme that does not require too many drastic compromises with their individual policies and can proceed to form a government.