JHARKHAND
Rs 86,370 cr Budget focuses on poverty alleviation
State Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon presented the first Budget of Grand Alliance (Congress, JMM and RJD) Government in the State in the tune of Rs 86,370 core for Financial Year 2020-21 focusing mainly on rural development, agriculture and allied sectors, education, health, welfare, drinking water and sanitation among others.
The Budget makes provision of Rs 25,047.43 crore for general sector, Rs 32,167.58 crore for social sector and Rs 29,154 crore for financial sector. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the State will get about Rs 21,669.50 crore from its tax revenue and Rs 11,820.34 crore from non-tax revenue, Rs 15,839 crore from Central assistance, Rs 25,979.91 crore as State’s share in Central taxes, about 11,000 from public debt. Rs 61.25 crore will be received from recovery of borrowings and advances.
Per capita income is estimated at Rs 65,802 in the current financial year at constant prices, compared to Rs 62,345 last year, reflecting a growth rate of 5.5 per cent. In the financial year 2020-21, it has been targeted to achieve real growth rate of 8 per cent at constant prices.
Notably, the Government has brought in several schemes in this Budget that were promised by the grand alliance partners in their poll manifestoes. The schemes include extension of Ayushman Bharat scheme to APL families, Dhoti/Lungi and Saree scheme, CM special scholarship scheme, additional Rs 50,000 under PMAY, scheme for treatment of terminally ill patients of State.
The Government has also made provisions for free electrify upto 100 units, extra ration for lef out 10 lakh people above the age of 50, farmers’ loan waiver scheme, yearly financial assistance to unemployed youth, CM Canteen scheme in rural areas, free technical education for girl students, modernisation of district schools etc.
INTERNATIONAL
India ranks 77th on sustainability, 131st in child flourishing index rankings: UN report
According to a United Nations backed report released India ranked 77th on a sustainability index that takes into account per capita carbon emissions.
It also ranks 131st on a flourishing ranking that measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children.
The Sustainability Index ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target.
The report was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal.
Singapore firm wins bid to buy India’s longest road tunnel
Singapore-based infrastructure investment platform Cube Highways has won the bid to acquire India’s longest road tunnel – the 9.2-km Chenani-Nashri project in Jammu & Kashmir – for Rs 3,929 crore.
The IL&FS board has declared Cube as the highest bidder (H1), and invited lenders to vote for the sale through the e-voting process.
The tunnel project has a debt of around Rs 5,454 crore and a sale of the asset will help bring down the overall debt position of the company.
Cube Highways, a platform floated by I Squared Capital and backed by International Finance Corp and ADIA, operates 1,700 km of highways in India.
World Bank unveils USD 12 billion aid package to combat coronavirus
The World Bank unveiled a USD 12 billion aid package that will provide fast-track funds to help countries combat the coronavirus outbreak.
The funds, some of which are targeted to the world’s poorest nations, can be used for medical equipment or health services and will include expertise and policy advice.
NATIONAL
National Security Day is observed on 4 March
National Security Day or Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas is observed on 4 March every year in India. The day aims to appreciate the work of security forces as they play a major role in maintaining the peace and security of the people in the country. On this day, the leaders, officials, and people pay homage to the soldiers who died while saving the country.
The day promotes the security forces that continuously work for the nation. It aims to remind the people about the personal duties of the security forces towards the country.
NSC was established on 4 March 1966 by the Government of India. The council functions under the Ministry of Labour. It focuses on promoting SHE at the national level in order to develop and sustain the voluntary movement. The council was registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950. It conducts special training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and provides consultancy studies like safety audits, hazard evaluation, and risk assessment, etc.
KVIC to provide employment to nearly 6L people this year
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) plans to provide employment opportunities to nearly 6 lakh persons in the current year.
The number of projects and the amount of subsidy disbursed by the KVIC has doubled in just four years from 44,340 in 2015-16 to 73,427 in 2018-19. While Rs 1,020 crore margin money was disbursed in 2015-16, it went up to Rs 2,070 crore in 2018-19. The employment generated also increased from 3,23,362 in 2015-16 to 5,87,416 persons in 2018-19.
South Central Railways (SCR) zone becomes 1st in India to have energy-neutral stations
The Indian Railways South Central Railways (SCR) zone has become the first zonal railway in the country to have functional “energy neutral” railway stations on the network.
The South Central Railways has converted a total of 13 railway stations into “energy neutral” stations, which is the highest amongst all the zones across the Indian Railways network.
Haryana govt announces Rs six crore to those winning gold medals at Olympics
The Haryana government has decided to give 6 crore rupees to players of the state that bag gold medals at the Olympic Games.
State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, 3 crore rupees will be given to those winning gold medals at Asian Games and 1.5 crore rupees to the winners of yellow metal at Commonwealth Games.
An amount of 15 lakh rupees will be given to each player participating in the Olympic Games so that the players can make the state, as well as the country, proud.
Pyaar ka Paudha’ campaign launched by Bihar govt to encourage practice of planting trees
‘Pyaar ka Paudha’ (a plant of love) campaign has been launched by the Bihar government’s Department of Environment and Forest in Patna, to encourage the practice of planting trees in the state.
Department of Environment, humbly request you to gift one plant of love to your closed ones and provide good care.
The aim of this campaign is to promote the practice of planting trees in the state.