Focus Merit

Category: State Wise Current Affairs

IMS certification for Mangaluru Junction railway facility

January 11, 2020

The Carriage and Wagon Depot at Mangaluru Junction railway station, which is capable of examining freight train formations for rail worthiness, has obtained Integrated Management System (IMS). The IMS certification covers ISO 9001-2015 for quality management, ISO 14001-2015 for environment management, and ISO 45001-2018 for occupational health and safety, and is valid up to December 2022.

Functions associated with the examination of freight trains and maintenance activities performed at the depot, platform yard, and sick line; and the stores and material management functions at the depot are certified under the IMS. The brake power certificate issued by the depot is the authority to utilize the rakes in the specified schedule. On average, 49 such rakes are examined at the depot in a month

Tamil Nadu: 2 state-run varsities to be named after Jayalalithaa

January 11, 2020

Tamil Nadu Assembly passed two Bills to name a fisheries university and a music varsity after late Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. The Tamil Nadu Fisheries University and The Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University have been rechristened “The Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Fisheries University,” and “The Tamil Nadu Dr J Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University.” She served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for six times.

Orders had been issued in 2017 for the name change of fisheries varsity and sometime back as regards the music university. Though the name change is already in force in both the state-run varsities, the Bills were adopted to validate the change. DMK and other opposition party members, who opposed most of the other Bills, did not oppose naming the varsities after Jayalalithaa.

Dept. of Biotechnology funds a ‘KISAN hub’ at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

January 10, 2020

The Department of Biotechnology in the Union Ministry of Science and Technology has provided funds to Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to set up a biotechnology ‘KISAN hub’ under its farmers-centric mission Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN) programe to link India’s farmers with Indian and global best in science.

The hub has a low cost hydrponic demonstration unit, silage making facility, moisture meter, a nutritional forage cafeteria and a power back up facility to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the demonstration unit. The hub has been established at a cost of Rs. 11.14 lakhs at the Department of Forage Crops in the Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics at the University. Six scientists from the partnering institutes were selected and trained on improved fodder varieties and its cultivation and preservation.

Andhra Pradesh govt inks Rs 711 cr loan pact with German bank

January 10, 2020

KfW, a German development bank, will assist the Andhra Pradesh government with a Rs 711 crore loan for expanding the climate-resilient Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in the state over the next five years. The state government will spend another Rs 304 crore on the project under which 2.39 lakh farmers in 591 village panchayats will be encouraged to take up ZBNF.

The ZBNF project is being undertaken by the state government, dovetailing the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) of the Centre, with the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives extending technical support. It has already launched ZBNF is over 3,011 villages covering an extent of 1.28 lakh hectares.

Agriculture Minister Kanna Babu also launched a toll-free number, 1800 599 3366, for enquiries related to the insurance scheme launched by the YSRCP government. The helpline will be functional from 10 am to 10 pm. YSR Rythu Bharosa for financial assistance to farmers, interest-free loans, free insurance for farmers, free borewell and free power supply to farmlands are among the schemes announced for farmers.

Bengaluru: SBI launches promotional campaign with Metro Cash & Carry India

January 10, 2020

State Bank of India (SBI), in a joint promotional campaign with Metro Cash & Carry India, has launched value-added services at its Bengaluru Centre. Similar promotional campaigns are planned at Metro Cash & Carry centres across the country. Under the arrangement, SBI will offer existing and new customers of Metro Cash & Carry, services such as opening SBI current accounts, issuing business debit cards, POS machines, digital products and other asset products.

Loans are also being offered to eligible Metro customers for renovation of their outlets. The campaign was launched simultaneously at three Metro Cash & Carry stores at Yeshwanthpur, Binneypet and Kanakapura and at SBI Mahalaxmi Layout, Chamrajpet and Doddakallasandra branches. SBI’s existing and new SME customers will also be offered pre-approved Metro Cash & Carry cards along with a welcome gift voucher.

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Dept launches publicity campaign at SATTE 2020

January 10, 2020

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department has launched a massive publicity campaign at the ongoing South Asian Trade and Travel Exchange Expo (SATTE) 2020, to showcase diverse tourism attractions of the twin regions. Aimed at building new business partnerships, SATTE is an important avenue for the promotion of tourism.

The three-day expo, sponsored by J&K Tourism Department and supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has been organized in New Delhi. The 27th Edition of SATTE has witnessed participation of over 1,000 delegates from over 50 countries and 28 Indian states.

8 North Eastern states to participate in Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat

January 10, 2020

The eight States of the North-East Region will participate in a big way during the Madhavpur Mela held at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar district of Gujarat which will commence on 2nd April, a day after the Ram Navami festival. This will mark the cultural integration of Gujarat with the North-East under the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat shares its connect to the Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mishmi Tribe traces its ancestry to the legendary King Bhishmak and through him to his daughter Rukmini and Lord Krishna. The festival celebrates the immortal journey which Rukmini undertook from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat with Lord Bhismaknagar, located near Roing in the lower Dibang Valley district, also finds mention in Kalika Purana.

Visakhapatnam to host naval exercise MILAN 2020 in March

January 10, 2020

Visakhapatnam is set to host another International Naval event ‘MILAN‘ in March 2020. The theme of the exercise for the year 2020 is ‘Synergy Across the Seas’. MILAN 2020 is a multilateral naval exercise aimed to enhance professional interaction between foreign-friendly navies and learn from each other’s strengths and best practices in the maritime domain.

Famous Chariot Festival of Tamil Nadu begins

January 10, 2020

The famous chariot festival of the Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple in Tamilnadu begins. This 17th-century temple is famous for its architectural grandeur. Thousands have congregated in the sprawling temple premises to join in the pulling of the chariot. The ten-day annual festival is held in the Tamil month falling in December – January.

The temple is especially significant because it is sacred to both the Shaivite as well as Vashnavite sects. There is an Anjaneya statue, which is 22 feet tall is carved of a single granite block. It is one of the tallest statues of its type in India.

Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands submarine cable work begins

January 10, 2020

Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the submarine cable works on laying between Chennai – Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The submarine cables will be initially laid from Chennai to Port Blair covering a distance of 1,450 kilometres. He also flagged off the ship to lay the cable at Chennai Port. At the initial stage of commissioning of the project itself, the islands can get a data speed of 400-gigabytes per second.