• 21 Apr 2025

Major Thermal Power Project to Be Set Up in Salboni, West Bengal

Why in News 

The Chief Minister of West Bengal is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for a Rs 16,000 crore thermal power project in Salboni, located in Paschim Medinipur district. This is the largest private investment in West Bengal's core sector in the last 14 years. 

Key Points 

• About: 
  • The project will establish a 1600 MW thermal power plant, divided into two units of 800 MW each. 
    • The first unit is expected to be operational in four years, and the second unit in the fifth year. 
  • It is being developed by Jindal South West (JSW) Energy under the Design-Build-Finance-Own-Operate (DBFOO) model. 
• Energy and Resource Linkages: 
  • Coal India Ltd will supply coal for the plant through the Shakti B(IV) scheme. 
• Economic and Industrial Impact: 
  • At peak construction, the project is expected to generate employment for 4,000-6,000 people and create 800-1,000 permanent jobs once operational. 
  • It represents a major step in the revival of large-scale industry in western West Bengal. 
• Future Expansion Plans: 
  • At the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025, Sajjan Jindal (Chairman, JSW Group) announced plans to double the plant’s capacity with another major investment. 
  • Additional thermal power projects are also planned in Durgapur, Bakreshwar, and Santaldih. 
  • The state government and JSW Group also plan to establish a new industrial park in Salboni. 
    

Major Thermal Power Plants in West Bengal 

• Bandel Thermal Power Station (sit­u­ated on the west­ern bank of Bha­gi­rathi River, Hooghly district) 
• Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant (Birb­hum district) 
• Kolaghat Thermal Power Station (Purba Medinipur district) 
• Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant (Mur­shid­abad district) 
• Santaldihi Thermal Power Station (Purulia district) 

SHAKTI Scheme 

• The Ministry of Coal introduced the Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala (Coal) Transparently in India (SHAKTI) in 2017.  
  • SHAKTI Policy is a transparent way of allocating coal to the Power Sector. 
• Under SHAKTI Para B (iv), the coal linkages have been earmarked to the States of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam and Kerala for a capacity of 4000 MW, 5600 MW, 6740 MW, 3299 MW, 1600 MW, 2000 MW, 4100 MW, 500 MW and 500 MW respectively. 

Haryana Government Launches Medical Insurance Scheme for State Players

Why In News? 

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Sain announced ₹20 lakh medical insurance to every player in the state. The announcement was made during the inauguration of 3rd All India Shiv Kumar Smriti Basketball Competition held in Kiloi village, Rohtak. 

Note:  

• The All India Shiv Kumar Smriti Basketball Competition is a tribute to Late Sh. Shiv Kumar, who was remembered for his dedication to sports and social service. 
• A special grant of ₹21 lakh was announced for the development of Shiv Kumar Smriti Stadium. 

Key Points 

• Medical Insurance for Athletes: 
  • All registered players in Haryana will receive medical insurance worth ₹20 lakh. 
  • This is aimed at ensuring financial support in case of injuries or medical emergencies. 
• Promotion of Sports Through Policy Reforms: 
  • Haryana Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam 2021 has been implemented to provide job security and support to athletes. 
    • 550 new posts created in the Sports Department. 
    • 224 athletes already appointed to government jobs. 
    • Reservation in direct recruitment from Class-I to Class-III government posts. 
  • Haryana offers the highest cash rewards to medal-winning players in India. So far, ₹593 crore has been awarded as prize money 298 athletes are receiving regular honorariums. 
• Support for Young Athletes: 
  • 1,489 sports nurseries are active across the state, training 37,225 young athletes. 
  • Monthly stipends: 
    • ₹1,500 for athletes aged 8–14 years. 
    • ₹2,000 for those aged 15–19 years. 
  • Since 2014: 
    • ₹53.45 crore in scholarships awarded to 29,000+ students. 
    • Sports equipment distributed to 15,634 players. 
• Compulsory Sports in Schools: 
  • Sports are being made mandatory in schools to ensure balanced physical and mental development from an early age. 
  • Aim: Promote sports not just as a profession, but also as a way of life. 
  • Emphasis was laid on the role of sports like basketball in building qualities such as teamwork, discipline, quick decision-making and strategic thinking. 
  • Sports are seen as essential in creating a healthy, active, and aware society. 

Haryana Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam 2021 

• Haryana Utkrisht Khiladi Seva Niyam 2021 is a policy introduced by the Haryana government to promote sports, support athletes, and secure their future through job opportunities, financial assistance, and recognition.  
• It is a comprehensive step toward making sports a sustainable and respected career path in the state. 
• Key Features of the Policy: 
  • Government Jobs for Athletes: 
    • 550 new posts created in the Sports Department. 
    • 224 sportspersons have already been appointed to government positions. 
  • Reservation in Recruitment:  
    • Athletes get reservation in direct recruitment for Group A to Group D posts in the state government. 
  • Highest Cash Rewards in India: 
    • Haryana provides the highest cash prizes to medal-winners at various levels. 
  • Monthly Honorarium: 
    • So far 298 top-performing athletes have received an honorarium for their achievements. 
  • Scholarship Support: 
    • Since 2014, ₹53.45 crore in scholarships has been distributed to over 29,000 students who have performed well in sports. 

Fighter aircraft Rafale and Mirage

Why in News 

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation will carry out repair and maintenance and overhaul (MRO) of the Indian Air Force 's Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft at the Noida airport complex . The company will also set up a Centre of Excellence and a university for this. 

Key Points 

•  About
  • 1365 hectares of land has been acquired for the MRO facility , which is located near Noida International Airport . 
  • Aeronautical and Avionics courses at high school, polytechnic and graduation levels will be started at the Centre of Excellence established by Dassault . 
  • It aims to reduce foreign dependency by enhancing MRO capacity in India, promote self-reliance in the defence sector and enhance investment and employment opportunities in the state by attracting FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) . 
  • The company will also get a subsidy of ₹12 crore under the FDI policy . 
  • The MRO industry in India was worth $1.7 billion in 2021 , and is projected to reach $7 billion by 2030 . 
  • India has 713 aircraft , which can increase to 1522 by 2031. The Indian Air Force has 36 Rafale and 50 Mirage-2000 aircraft. 
  • India will no longer be dependent on countries like America, China and Singapore for the maintenance of state-of-the-art aircraft like Rafale and Mirage. 
• Importance:   
  • The maintenance cost and time of the Indian Air Force will be reduced. 
  • India's strategic autonomy and defence preparedness will be strengthened. 
  • Local employment , technical education and industrial development will be promoted. 
  • India's MRO industry can become globally competitive. 
  • Uttar Pradesh will get a new identity in the aviation sector . 

About Rafale: 

• Rafale is a French twin-engine and multirole fighter aircraft, designed by Dassault Aviation of France. 
• State-of-the-art technology has been used in this fighter plane and it is a 4.5 Generation fighter plane. 
• The Meteor Missile, SCALP Cruise Missile and MICA Missile System present in the Rafale fighter aircraft make it very important from the security point of view. 
• Rafale can fly at a speed of 2,222.6 kilometres per hour and an altitude of 50,000 feet. 
• This fighter aircraft is approximately 15.27 metres long and can carry 9,500 kilograms of bombs and ammunition at a time. 

15th Hockey Senior Men National Championship 2025

Why in News? 

Punjab won the 15th Hockey India Senior Men's National Championship, 2025 by defeating Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh defeated Manipur to finish third. 

Key Points  

• About the Championship:  
  • This championship was organised from 4 to 15 April at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh . 
  • According to Hockey India, the tournament followed the same division-based format as the Senior Women's National Championship. 
  • A total of 30 teams participated in the competition and were   divided into three divisions – Division A, Division B and Division C. 

 Major Dhyan Chand 

• Major Dhyan Chand He was a field hockey player who played international hockey from the year 1926 to 1949 . 
• He was a three-time Olympic gold medalist , winning gold in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympic editions. 
• His exceptional skills in the game earned him the title of ‘Hockey Wizard’. 
• Dhyan Chand, along with and his brother Roop Singh, contributed significantly to India's tally of 35 goals, leading to them being are known as the 'Hockey Twins' . 
• In the year 1934, Dhyan Chand was honoured with the captaincy of the Indian team . 
• Major Dhyan Chand retired from the Army as a Major in the year 1956 and was awarded the Padma Bhushan . 

National Sports Day is celebrated every year on 29 August on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand to honour his contribution and promote sports culture . 

Soil and Manure Swaraj Campaign

Why in News? 

Important initiatives are being taken towards improving soil health through “Soil and Manure Swaraj Abhiyan” in the southern region of Rajasthan, especially in the tribal dominated areas. 

Key Points: 

•  About the campaign: 
  • It aims to improve soil health, promote  organic farming and empower rural women in farming and leadership. 
  •  The campaign will cover six tribal-dominated districts located at the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh . 
  • It is being mainly implemented in Banswara and surrounding areas of southern Rajasthan. 
  • This campaign involves upgrading cow dung and farmyard manure using scientific methods and increasing soil fertility by using rock phosphate and bio-fertilizers. 
  • The women will be trained in the following tasks: 
    • Soil Testing 
    • Organic fertilizer production 
    • Formation and management of co-operative societies 
  • The campaign coordinates with programmes like the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Soil Health Card Scheme. 
• Under this campaign: 
  • Agricultural productivity will be increased through pit construction, material distribution and organizing community events. 
  • Farmers' dependence on chemical fertilizers will decrease and input costs will come down by 15-20%. 
  • It is possible to increase crop production by 20-30% . 

 Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission ( DAY-NRLM):  

• It is a centrally sponsored programme launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in the year 2011 . 
• It aims to eliminate rural poverty by promoting a variety of livelihoods and improved access to financial services for rural poor households across the country . 
• This involves working with community institutions through community professionals in a spirit of self-help, which is a unique proposition of DAY-NRLM. 
• It affects livelihoods, such as:  
  • Organising rural households into SHGs. 
  • To organise one female member from every rural poor family into self-help groups. 
  • Assist in training and capacity building of SHG members . 
  • Providing access to financial resources from its own institutions and banks. 

Soil Health Card Scheme 

• On February 19, 2015, the nationwide 'National Soil Health Card' scheme was launched at Suratgarh in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan . 
• The main objective of this scheme is to assist the states in providing soil health cards to farmers across the country. 
• The theme of this scheme is: Healthy Earth, Green Fields. 
• Under this scheme, rural youth and farmers up to 40 years of age can establish soil testing laboratory and do sample testing. 
• It costs up to 5 lakh rupees to set up a laboratory, 75 percent of which is borne by the central and state governments. The same provision exists for self-help groups, farmers' cooperatives, farmers' groups or farmers' producer organizations. 
• Under the scheme, soil status is regularly assessed by the State Governments every 2 years so that nutrient deficiencies can be identified and corrections can be implemented. 

FSSAI Promotes Healthier Diet Along Char Dham Yatra

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand government, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has launched a campaign to sensitize food vendors and eateries along the Char Dham Yatra route to reduce the use of salt, sugar, and oil in food.  

• Training workshops have been held in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Chamba, and Srinagar. 

Char Dham Yatra 

• Yamunotri Dham: 
  • Location: Uttarkashi district. 
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna. 
  • River Yamuna is the second-most sacred river in India after River Ganga. 
• Gangotri Dham: 
  • Location: Uttarkashi district. 
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga. 
  • Considered the most sacred of all Indian rivers. 
• Kedarnath Dham: 
  • Location: Rudraprayag district. 
  • Dedicated to: Lord Shiva. 
  • Situated on the bank of the Mandakini River. 
  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas (divine representations of Lord Shiva) in India. 
• Badrinath Dham: 
  • Location: Chamoli district. 
  • Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple. 
  • Dedicated to: Lord Vishnu. 
  • One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites. 

Key Points 

• Key Highlights of the Campaign: 
• Objective: 
  • To minimize health risks (e.g., cardiac arrest, breathing issues) among pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra by promoting healthier cooking practices and dietary habits. 
    • It is a part of the Fit India Movement and PM’s appeal for a 10% reduction in salt, sugar, and oil consumption. 
• Implementation and Monitoring Agencies: 
  • Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA), Uttarakhand 
  • District administration, Uttarakhand 
• Dietary Guidelines for Food Vendors: 
  • Reduce the use of salt, sugar, and oil in food. 
  • Avoid papads, pickles, and MSG (monosodium glutamate) - laden items. 
    • MSG, also known as Ajinomoto, is a widely used food additive that enhances flavor, particularly the umami taste.  
      • It's a sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid naturally present in many foods. 
  • Use natural sweeteners like dates and fruits. 
• Medical and Health Arrangements: 
  • Mandatory health screening for pilgrims above 50 years of age. 
    • In 2024, a health screening of 9.5 lakh people was conducted. 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 

• About: 
  • FSSAI is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006. 
  • FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health by regulating and supervising food safety and quality in India, operating under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 
  • FSSAI has a headquarters in New Delhi and regional offices in eight zones across the country. 
  • The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI, appointed by central government. The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. 
• Functions and Powers: 
  • Framing of regulations and standards for food products and additives. 
  • Granting of licences and registration to food businesses. 
  • Enforcement of food safety laws and regulations. 
  • Monitoring and surveillance of food safety and quality. 
  • Conducting risk assessment and scientific research on food safety issues. 
  • Providing training and awareness on food safety and hygiene. 
  • Promoting food fortification and organic food. 
  • Coordinating with other agencies and stakeholders on food safety matters. 
• Events and Index: 
  • World Food Safety Day 
  • State Food Safety Index. 

Prasad Scheme

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has approved an amount of  ₹44.24 crore under the PRASAD Scheme of the Central Government to make Maa Pitambara Peeth a major religious tourist destination of the state. 

 Key Points: 

• About Pitambara Peetha: 
  • Pitambara Peeth is a Hindu temple complex which also includes  an ashram , located in Datia city of Madhya Pradesh. 
  • The Shri Vankhandeshwar Shivalinga located here is believed to be from the Mahabharata period . This temple is one of the major centers of Shakti Sadhana . 
  • The Peetha was established in the year 1935 by Swamiji Maharaj with the cooperation of  Raja Shatrujit Singh Bundela of Datia .  

 Prasad Scheme: 

• 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation' was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage sites . 
• In October 2017, the scheme was renamed as National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (ie 'PRASAD') . 
  • After the closure of the HRIDAY scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, development of heritage sites was included in the PRASHAD scheme
• Several religious towns/sites have been identified for development under PRASAD Scheme such as Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parashuram Kund (Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar ) etc. 
• Implementing Agency: The projects identified under this scheme will be implemented through agencies identified by the concerned State/UT Government. 
• Financing Mechanism: The Central Government provides 100% funding for project components undertaken for public financing. 
• The scheme seeks to leverage voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for better sustainability of the projects .