HIMACHAL PRADESH
Himachal Pradesh records highest fish price among large reservoirs of country
Himachal Pradesh has achieved the distinction of recording fish price of Rs 266 per kilogram in the year 2019-20, which is highest among large reservoirs of the country. Pong reservoir in Kangra district of the state with a catchment area of 12,561 sq kms and mean water spread of 15,662 hectare was created in 1975 by building the highest earth fill dam in India on Beas river in the wetland zone of Shivalik hills. This has emerged as leading fishing reservoirs in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh.
Pong Dam reservoirs with water spread on around 24483 hectare has been adjudged as best managed reservoirs in terms of fish production and also in terms of fetching highest rates of the fish catches from amongst large reservoirs in the country.
The stocking programmes in Pong reservoir were initiated during 1974–75 when the first consignment of 1.30 lakhs fry of mirror carp was released. Since then a regular stocking programme has been undertaken. Stocking has been mainly confirmed to the seed of mirror carp and Indian major L Rohita, C Catla and C Mrigala.
During 2004-05 per hectare yield of reservoir was 27.4 Kg per hectare, with cat fishes and carps accounting to 83 percent and 17 percent of the landings, respectively. Presently 34.48 percent carps and 65.52 percent catfishes are caught in the reservoir.
INTERNATIONAL
IEA released a first in-depth review of Indias energy policies
The International Energy Agency (IEA) along with the country’s policy think tank NITI Aayog released the first in-depth review of India’s energy policies. The review aims to set out a range of recommendations in each energy policy area.
The IEA regularly releases energy policy reviews for its member and association countries. For the first time, it has carried out the review for India. This is the first review IEA carried out for India.
The report highlighted the achievements made through the country’s energy policies
It suggested recommendations to support the Government of India’s (GoI) goals to promote the well-functioning energy markets and boost the deployment of renewables.
The review encourages India to institutionalize energy policy coordination across the government with a national energy policy framework.
It marked the government’s policy that provided access to electricity, affordable efficient lighting, and clean cooking through schemes like SAUBHAGYA, UJJWALA, and UJALA.
Also, India is pursuing energy market reforms and the swift deployment of renewable technologies.
It highlighted the growth of renewables in India which accounts for almost 23% of India’s total installed capacity.
The review also founded that the energy efficiency improvements in the country has avoided 15% of oil and gas imports, additional energy demand, and air pollution and 300 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2018.
NATIONAL
National Youth Day: 12 January
The nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day on 12 January.
One of the greatest spiritual leaders of India, Swami Vivekananda introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
He became popular in the western world after his famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893.
Vivekananda was the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
He was the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Home Minister Amit Shah launches country’s first Cyber Crime Prevention Unit AASHVAST in Gandhinagar
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates the country’s first Cyber Crime Prevention Unit AASHVAST in Gandhinagar.
He also launched Video Integration and StateWide Advance Security-VISWAS project.
The Cyber Crime Prevention Unit-AASHVAST which will have a dedicated service helpline for victims of cyber crimes.
RBI extends recurring payments feature to UPI
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will now allow consumers to give an e-mandate for recurring payments made through Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
This functionality will allow UPI users to bypass additional factor authentication (AFA) every time a payment is made to a regular merchant by giving a one time instruction to the UPI service provider.
This facility was earlier available for card and wallet based payments.
The limit on such recurring transactions has been set at Rs 2000.
Kolkata Port renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port
The Kolkata Port has been renamed as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port.
The Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi announced this in Kolkata on the occasion of 150th year celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust.
Mr. Modi launched several Port led development projects worth Rs 600 cr rupees to mark the day.
On the occasion the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp on 150th years of the Kolkata Port Trust.
Jasprit Bumrah to receive the Polly Umrigar Award
Indian Cricketer Jasprit Bumrah is selected to receive the Polly Umrigar Award for male category for the year 2018-19. He is awarded for being the best international cricketer at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Annual Awards. It has been scheduled to be held in Mumbai.
Poonam Yadav will receive the Polly Umrigar Award for the Female category.