HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh in India’s top 5 with 333sq km forest surge

Even as 960 hectares of forest land was diverted for the non-forestry purposes between January 1, 2015 and February 5, 2019, the forest cover in Himachal Pradesh increased by 333.52 sq km as compared to the previous assessment reported in 2017, the data released as part of Indian State of Forest Report-2019 has revealed.

The main reasons for the increase in forest cover in the state were plantation and conservation activities, the report said.

The recorded forest area (RFA) in the state is 37,033 sq km, out of which 1,898 sq km is reserved forests, 33,130 sq km is protected forests and 2,005 sq km is unclassed forests. The protected area network in the State has five national parks, 28 wildlife sanctuaries and three conservation reserves, covering 15.10% of geographical area of the state.

Based on the interpretation of IRS resources at-2 LISS III satellite data for a period between October and December 2017, the forest cover in the state is 15,433.52 sq km which is 27.72% of the state’s geographical area, the report said.

In terms of forest canopy density classes, the state has 3,112.71 sq km under very dense forest (VDF), 7,125.93 sq km under moderately dense forest (MDF) and 5,194.88 sq km under open forest (OF).

The state has reported an extent of recorded forest area (RFA) 37,033 sq km which is 66.52% of its geographical area. The reserved, protected and unclassed forests are 5.13%, 89.46% and 5.41% of the recorded forest area in the state, respectively.
Himachal Pradesh has 116 number of tree species, 99 number of shrub species and 109 number of herb species.

INTERNATIONAL

Google searches for Operation Twist surge in India

Google searches for Operation Twist surge in India. The announcement came after the central bank announced its version of the U.S. Federal Reserve unconventional monetary policy. The searches for the term came from Delhi, Maharashtra.

The central bank buys long-term bonds while simultaneously selling short-term government securities to cheapen long-term borrowing and boost bank lending. The Reserve Bank of India buys longer-tenor bonds to sell for shorter debt. The Operation Twist in 2011-2012 to cheapen long-term financing and spur bank lending. It is India’s central bank that controls the issue and supply of the Indian rupee. RBI is the regulator of entire Banking in India. It plays an important part in the Development Strategy of the Government of India.

NATIONAL

India first Transgender University to come up in Uttar Pradesh

India’s first university for the transgender community will be opened in the Fazilnagar block of the Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh. The transgender community members will be able to get an education.

The university is being built by Akhil Bhartiya Kinnar Siksha Seva Trust (All-India transgender education service trust). The university will facilitate its members to study right from class 1 to Post Graduate (PG) and even do research and get a PhD degree. The Members of the transgender community will get an education and will be able to give a new direction to the country. From 15 January 2020. The two children who are brought up by community members will get admission and from February and March 2020 other classes will start.

Digital Radio to be launched in 2024

Centre government planning to revamp All India Radio officially known as Akashvani by introducing Digital Radio in India by 2024. The country will be technologically-equipped for it. The announcement in this regard was made by Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar at the 2019 Akashvani Annual Awards in New Delhi.Digital Radio launched by the year 2024, there will be more clarity as the audio of digital radio. There will be four times radio stations.

It is officially known since 1956 as Akashvani, is the national public radio broadcaster of India and is a division of Prasar Bharati. It was founded on 1936.

NTPC to invest 50,000 crores for 10 GW solar capacity

NTPC planning to add 10 GW of solar energy generation capacity by 2022. An investment of ₹50,000 crores to be funded mainly by green bonds.

NTPC installed renewable energy capacity of 920 MW, which constitutes mainly solar energy. It formulated a long-term plan to become a 130 GW company by 2032 with 30% non-fossil fuel or renewable energy capacity. The company will tender 2,300 MW of solar energy capacity by the end of this fiscal. NTPC plans to add 10 GW solar energy capacity assume significance in view of India’s ambitious target of having 175 GW of clean energy by 2022.

The power would set up some of its solar energy projects under a scheme to keep the tariff below the ₹3-per-unit level. The company will also set up solar energy projects without long-term (25 years) power purchase agreements as it aims to sell the electricity to industrial as well as commercial consumers and also at energy exchanges. The Central Electricity Regulatory Authority approved the real-time power market and 48 sessions of half an hour each in a day to allow consumers to get the desired power supply within an hour.

WCD Ministry invites application for Nari Shakti Puraskar for 2019

Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited applications for Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2019.

The National Award is given annually to individuals, groups, institutions in recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of women empowerment, especially for vulnerable and marginalized women.

Nearly 40 Nari Shakti Puraskar will be given on International Women’s Day observed on 8th March 2020.

Union Cabinet approves creation of CDS single-point military adviser to govt

Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the chief of defence staff (CDS)point military adviser by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999. The department of military affairs headed by the CDS will be created under the defence ministry. The CCS approved the report of a high-level committee. It is headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, which finalised responsibilities and the enabling framework for the CDS.

The cabinet approved the creation of defence staff. The CDS is a four-star general who will also head the department of military affairs. The CDS will be first among equals among service chiefs.

The main aim of the CDS to ensure joint manship among the three services. This includes powers to work on setting up a few theatre commands as well as allocating military assets among the services to synergise their operations. The three services coordinate their work under the framework of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). The CDS will act as a single-point military adviser to the prime minister and defence minister on key defence and strategic issues.

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