15-03-22 Daily-Himachal Pradesh-HPPSC Current Affairs

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has decided to provide a 33-seater bus based on hydrogen fuel and set up a hydrogen fuel generation plant through a 250 kW photovoltaic solar plant in Chamba district as a pilot project. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will operate the bus at important tourist places of the district.

NHPC Chamera project-II general manager SK Sandhu disclosed this at a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner DC Rana. Sandhu

provided the information on the technical aspects with regard to setting up of a hydrogen mobility-based project in the district.

He said the bus on full fuel tank would run around 200 km. After the hydrogen was produced from the solar plant, the remaining electricity supply would be sent to the local grid.

The Indian Space Research Organisations Yuva Vigyani Karyakram (YUVIKA) or Young Scientist Programme is a special initiative with an objective to impart basic knowledge on Space Technology, space science and space applications to young students, especially in rural areas.

It also expects to create a platform that encourages more students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based research/ careers.

, Karnataka regional office, is holding its annual Marketing event Grameena Habba, a platform for rural artisans to sell agricultural, handicraft and handloom products in Bengaluru till March 14. This year, the Grameena Habba is being held at Mantri Square Mall, Malleswaram.

Rural artisans, weavers, farmers and tribes across India and several districts of Karnataka are showcasing handmade arts, handloom sarees, handwoven dress material, Home decors, tribal products, natural beauty products, organic food products, jewellery and accessories during this festival.

The income that they earn from selling these products will directly reach the artisans.

The Centre has assigned an outlay of500 crore for the period from fiscal FY 21-22 to FY 25-26.

The main objectives of the scheme are to strengthen the existing facilities in order to make India a global leader in the Pharma Sector.

Under the Scheme, financial assistance to pharma clusters will be provided for creation of Common Facilities.

This will not only improve the quality but also ensure the sustainable Growth of clusters.

Further, in order to upgrade the production facilities of SMEs and MSMEs so as to meet national and international regulatory standards (WHO-GMP or Schedule-M), interest subvention or capital subsidy on their capital loans will be provided, which will further facilitate the growth in volumes as well as in quality.

A drop in crushing and slow meal off-take amid high prices in the international market for Indian origin soyameal has led to a decline in soyabean meal exports.
The export of soyabean meal in the period October-February 2022 has stood at 4.23 lakh tonne as against 13.55 lakh tonne in the same period a year ago, according toSoybean Processors Association of India(SOPA).

Soyabean oil year runs from October to September.

Madhya Pradeshis a leading soyabean producing state contributing over 70 per cent to total national output.

Exports of soyabean meal in February were recorded at 50,000 ton in comparison to 3.52 lakh ton in the corresponding period a year ago, according to the trade body. Exports in February were 50,000 tonne, lower by 55 per cent from January this year. SOPA has also revised downward crushing of soyabean for the year 2021-22 to 88 lakh ton from earlier estimated 90 lakh ton while local meal consumption has been revised down to 56 lakh tonne as against 58 lakh tonne

The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU members first-ever female president.

Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election on Thursday as a victory for Women.

She was elected to the mostly ceremonial role by 137 votes to 51 in the parliament dominated by Orbans right-wing Fidesz party ahead of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist.