The Hindu-Review-January-March-2024-english States Current Affairs

  • Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of MoPSW & AYUSH, virtually inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named ‘Ocean Grace’ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU) on March 2, 2024. The Ocean Grace is the first Make-in-India ASTDS Tug developed by Cochin Shipyard Limited under MoPSW. The MMU is part of the port’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

  • Chapchar Kut, the grandest festival in Mizoram, resonated throughout the state with vibrant traditional customs and jubilant festivities. Thousands of attendees converged upon the Assam Rifles Ground - Lammual - in the heart of Aizawl city, filling it to its capacity. The event featured a rich display of Mizo community traditions and culture, highlighted by traditional songs and captivating cultural dance performances, making it a day-long celebration to remember.

  • In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched an initiative to support young entrepreneurs called “Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA).” This program offers interest-free loans to help young people kickstart their business ventures with projects valued up to Rs 5 lakh.

  • Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has achieved a milestone by becoming the first state in the country to issue five crore Ayushman cards. This accomplishment underscores the state government’s commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of every citizen.

  • Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering women in the state. The announcement comes as part of the Congress party’s pre-election promises, marking a pivotal step towards fulfilling its commitments to the electorate. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu unveiled the “Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna,” a scheme designed to provide financial support to women aged between 18 to 60 years. Under this scheme, eligible women will receive a monthly stipend of $₹ 1,500$, amounting to an annual expenditure of ₹800 crore.

  • Bengaluru, famously known as the Garden City, is poised to become the epicenter of cutting-edge advancements in the horticulture sector. The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) is gearing up to host the three-day National Horticultural Fair 2024 at its Hessarghatta premises, situated on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

  • South Eastern Coalfield Limited’s (SECL) Gevra mine, located in Chhattisgarh, is on the verge of becoming the largest coal mine in Asia. The mine recently received environmental clearance to enhance its production capacity to 70 million tons per annum, up from the existing 52.5 million tons.

  • Kerala school has introduced Iris, a humanoid teacher, marking a significant milestone in the realm of educational technology. Developed in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech Private Limited, Iris represents a pioneering effort to make learning more interactive, engaging, and accessible.

  • Kerala, renowned for its cultural richness and cinematic brilliance, is set to make history in the digital entertainment landscape with the launch of CSpace, India’s maiden government-backed Over-The-Top (OTT) platform. The much-anticipated unveiling ceremony will take place at Kairali Theatre on Thursday, March 7, at 9:30 am, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spearheading the event.

  • Under the directions and guidance of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday, 5th March. This pivotal agreement took place between CSIR Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, and UCOST under the aegis of the “Adarsh Champawat” mission. The MoU signifies a collaborative effort to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development in the region.

  • Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has announced a complete waiver of electricity bills for private tube wells owned by farmers, effective from April 1, 2023. This decision, announced, aims to alleviate the financial burden on the state’s farmers, enhancing their agricultural productivity and overall wellbeing.

  • Karnataka state government, in a strategic alliance with the World Economic Forum (WEF), has announced the establishment of a cutting-edge Al centre in the state. This collaboration formalized through a Letter of Intent signed on February 29, aims to position Karnataka as a global hub for artificial intelligence, marking a significant step in integrating the state into the global digital and technological landscape.

  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on March 6 took the priority corridor of the Agra Metro, for an inaugural ride after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the project earlier in the day. The $6 \mathrm{~ k m}$ long priority corridor connects the iconic Taj Mahal’s eastern gate to the Mankameshwar Temple station, providing a vital transportation link for tourists and commuters alike.

  • The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received the first set of six train coaches for its upcoming driverless metro line, called the Yellow Line. This $18.8 \mathrm{~km}$-long line, connecting RV Road and Bommasandra, will be the first in India to have a driverless train system.

  • At the 4th Semicon India FutureDesign Roadshow in Kerala, Union Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar lauded the remarkable progress of India’s semiconductor industry under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized the transformative role of technology and semiconductor engineering in shaping India’s future.

  • Bichom, carved out of West and East Kameng, has been declared the 27th district of Arunachal Pradesh. Chief Minister Pema Khandu led the inauguration ceremony, marking a significant milestone for the region.

  • The 3-day National Dairy Mela and Agricultural Exhibition at Chaibasa in Jharkhand was inaugurated by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda. Organized by the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, this event marks the first of its kind in Jharkhand, aimed at fostering the comprehensive development of livestock and agriculture in tribal areas.

  • The state of Maharashtra has announced its fourth women’s policy, which aims to promote the holistic development of women. Aditi Tatkare, the Women and Child Development Minister, unveiled this policy on the eve of Women’s Day during the golden jubilee year of the Women’s Economic Development Corporation.

  • The Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for a 50 MW Solar Project in Sonitpur district. The project, being developed by SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), holds promise for bolstering Assam’s renewable energy sector and contributing to sustainable development.

  • The Tamil Nadu government has launched the ‘Neengal Nalama’ (Are you fine?) scheme, a beneficiary outreach program aimed at reviewing the implementation of flagship schemes and addressing the grievances of the public. The initiative was kickstarted by Minister of Rural Development I. Periyasamy, with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, other ministers, senior officials, and district collectors reaching out to beneficiaries across the state.

  • Nayab Singh Saini, an influential leader from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Haryana. The decision was announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Manohar Lal Khattar, the outgoing Chief Minister and his entire cabinet stepped down.

  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), whose rules were notified by the Union Home Ministry on March 11, will not be implemented in the state. The decision comes amid growing concerns that the CAA goes against minorities and Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps in Tamil Nadu.

  • The Geological Survey of India, State Unit: Andhra Pradesh, unveiled a representative Stratigraphic Column of the Cuddapah Supergroup in Vajrakarur Diamond Processing Camp, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. The ceremony took place on 10th March 2024 and was attended by prominent dignitaries including Shri Ch Venkateswara Rao, ADG & HoD, GSI, Southern Region, and Shri S. N. Mahapatro, Deputy Director General, SU: Andhra Pradesh.

  • For the first time, the district of Simdega in Jharkhand is hosting the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, a national-level agricultural science fair. The event, organized by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa (New Delhi), is being held at the Albert Ekka Stadium from March 10th to 12th, marking a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a prosperous farmer community.

  • Odisha government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced an additional $ \mathrm{1 0}$ days of casual leave for women working in various government departments. This decision aims to recognize the multitude of responsibilities women shoulder and provide them with greater flexibility to strike a better work-life balance.

  • The Maharashtra government has taken a historic step by securing approval from the Jammu and Kashmir administration to acquire $ \mathrm{2 . 5}$ acres of land in Ichgam, near Srinagar airport, for the construction of Maharashtra Bhawan. This initiative symbolizes a proactive approach towards fostering cultural and touristic ties between the two regions.

  • The Rajasthan government has decided to distribute free seeds of millets and coarse grains to the state’s farmers. This move aims to boost millet production in the state.

  • Tamil Nadu dominates the illegal trade in shark body parts, comprising nearly $65 %$ of seizures between January 2010 and December 2022, as per a recent analysis by TRAFFIC and WWF-India. This alarming trend poses a significant threat to marine biodiversity, with Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, and Maharashtra also contributing to this illicit trade.

  • The Maharashtra Cabinet has announced its decision to rename Ahmednagar district as ‘Ahilya Nagar’. The renaming is in honor of the 18th-century Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar.

  • Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, has resigned from her position on Monday, March 18, 2024. According to sources, she is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the state of Tamil Nadu.

  • Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics stadium and indoor aquatic centre at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new indoor diving centre in the stadium complex.

  • The Election Commission has launched a special campaign in Himachal Pradesh to boost voter turnout in 414 polling stations with less than $60 %$ voting during the last Lok Sabha polls.

  • Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been given the additional responsibility as the in-charge governor of Telangana. This comes after Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from her constitutional post as the Telangana Governor.

  • The city of Begusarai in Bihar is the most polluted city in the world, according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 released by IQAir, a Switzerland-based organization. The report states that out of the top $ \mathrm{1 0 0}$ most polluted places globally, 83 are from India.

  • The Uttar Pradesh police force is set to adopt the advanced Trinetra app 2.0, a cutting-edge digital platform that promises to revolutionize crime prevention and investigation in the state.

  • Tamil Nadu is set to witness a historic event as one of its space startups, Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited, prepares to launch its first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch marks several significant milestones in India’s space exploration journey.

  • Bihar Diwas 2024, celebrated on 22nd March 2024 in India, holds immense historical and cultural significance for the state of Bihar. It commemorates the founding of Bihar as a separate state in 1912, marking its separation from the Bengal Presidency. The inception of Bihar Diwas dates back to 2010, when the state government initiated the celebrations to honor Bihar’s 112th statehood anniversary. Since then, Bihar Diwas has evolved into a vibrant occasion, reflecting the essence of Bihar’s rich heritage and traditions.

  • Researchers have made an exciting discovery off the coast of Kollam in Kerala. They have found a new species of deep-sea isopod, which is a tiny crustacean that feeds on fish. This new species belongs to the genus Brucethoa and was found living inside the gill cavity of a fish called the Spinyjaw greeneye.

  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is conducting excavations at two mounds in Nachne village, located in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. The goal of these excavations is to uncover what could potentially be the oldest temple in India.

  • The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has declared the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act of 2004 as unconstitutional. The court ruled that the act violated the principle of secularism, as well as several articles of the Constitution, including Articles 14, 21, and 21-A. Additionally, the court found that the act also contravened Section 22 of the University Grants Commission Act of 1956.

  • Uttar Pradesh boasts of being the state with the most districts in India, totaling 75 districts divided into 18 divisions. Additionally, it comprises 822 development blocks, 17 municipal corporations, and 351 tehsils. The easternmost district is Ballia, while Saharanpur is the northernmost, Sonbhadra the southernmost, and Shamli the westernmost district. In this article, we will get to know about the village of “Choti Kashi” in Uttar Pradesh.

  • Gujarat’s Minister of State for Education, Praful Pansheriya, launched the online learning platform Shiksha Reform in Surat. The event was attended by noted educationist Deepak Rajguru, trustees, principals, Kimmo Nikkanen from Finland’s Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, and educationist Antti Isovita.



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