PUNJAB
Punjab looks to bring 25% paddy area under DSR
The Punjab government is aiming to use the direct-seeded rice (DSR) technology for sowing paddy in nearly 25% of the area under the crop to help farmers cope with labour scarcity.
Farmers across Punjab are estimated to cultivate paddy on around 27 lakh hectares, of which seven lakh hectares is under high-quality basmati rice.
The state agriculture department has sanctioned around 4,000 DSR machines and 800 paddy transplanting machines to farmers on subsidy ranging from 40%-50%. By using DSR technique, farmers would also be able to slash cultivation cost in terms of water and save electricity used in tubewells.
DSR technique would be instrumental in saving about 30% water besides cutting the cost of paddy cultivation by nearly Rs 6,000 per acre.
INTERNATIONAL
China will launch its first Mars mission, the ‘Tianwen-1’ in July
In July, China will launch its first Mars mission, the ‘Tianwen-1’, which is expected to land on the Red Planet’s surface in the first quarter of 2021.
Tianwen-1, an all-in-one orbiter, lander and rover will search the Martian surface for water, ice, investigate soil characteristics, and study the atmosphere, among other objectives.
The Tianwen-1 mission will lift off on a Long March 5 rocket.
The success of the mission will make China the third country to achieve a Mars landing after the USSR and the United States.
The Chinese mission is expected to take off in late July, around the same time when NASA is launching its own Mars mission– the ambitious ‘Perseverance’ which aims to collect Martian samples and bring them back to Earth in a two-part campaign.
JK Rowling to release her latest book “The Ickabog”
Author JK Rowling will release her latest children’s book, The Ickabog, online for free.
The first two chapters of The Ickabog are available for free. Rowling has pledged to donate all royalties when the book is published to “groups who’ve been particularly impacted by the pandemic.
The Harry Potter author said she would release a couple of chapters at a time, so that children could read it online during Covid-19.
NATIONAL
Union Minister for Culture launches the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
Union Minister for Culture Prahlad Singh Patel launched the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India in New Delhi.
India houses a repository of unique Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH) traditions, 13 of which have also been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.
This initiative is also a part of the Vision 2024 of the Ministry of Culture.
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs launched ‘GOAL’ programme for Digital Skilling of Tribal Yout
The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda “GOAL (Going Online As Leaders)” programme has been launched for Digital Skilling of Tribal Youth.
The Going Online As Leaders (GOAL) is a joint initiative of Facebook India with the Ministry of Tribal affairs.
The programme aims to offer mentorship to tribal youth via digital mode and intends to act as a catalyst to explore hidden talents of the tribal youth.
The program has a target to empower 5,000 tribal youths in the present phase in order to harness the full potential of digital platforms as well as tools to understand new ways of doing business, explore and connect with domestic and international markets.
Centre Approves Modified Project Report Of Ujh Dam In Jammu And Kashmir
The centre has given approval to a modified detailed project report (DPR) of the Ujh Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of Rs 9,167 crore.
The Central Advisory Committee for consideration of techno-economic viability of major and medium irrigation, flood control and multipurpose project proposals accepted the project proposal subject to certain conditions.
The proposal was approved keeping in view its strategic importance from Indus Waters Treaty angle for utilisation and regulation of waters flowing across the border.
The modified Ujh MPP is located on river Ujh, one of the main tributaries of river Ravi, in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.
A 116.00 m high dam is proposed at the river with full reservoir level (FRL) at 608 m.
Borrowing limit of states raised from 3% of Gross State Domestic Product to 5% in 2020-21
The government has decided to increase the borrowing limits of states from 3% to 5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the year 2020-21.
The state governments, so far, have borrowed only 14% of the limit which is authorised to them while 86% of the limit remains unutilized.
The finance minister said that part of the borrowing will be linked to specific reforms like increasing job creation through investment and promoting urban development, health and sanitation.
Rs 15000 crore have been announced for states, essential items, testing labs and kits, along with rolling out of teleconsultation services, the launch of Aarogya Setu app and protection to health care workers with adequate PPEs.
MoHFW constitutes committee to reform Drug Regulatory System
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has constituted a committee to reform the Drug Regulatory System.
The committee comprises 11 members including the senior health officials, scientists and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.
The committee is headed by Rajesh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty to the Union health minister.
The committee has been tasked with examining the current drug regulatory system and to give recommendations for reforms in order to bring the system more efficient and to streamline it with global standards.
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