HIMACHAL PRADESH
Survey: Caste, religion, money still influence voting behaviour
Factors like caste, religion, community, money, policy, ideology and affiliation to political parties still influence the voting behaviour in elections to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).
An online survey conducted by the Rural Development faculty, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), from January 5 to 9 on “Voting Behaviour in PRI elections in Himachal” revealed that people had high expectations from the elected representatives and they felt that they forgot the promises made to people after elections.
The survey, conducted ahead of the PRI elections slated for January 17, 19 and 21, covered 327 gram panchayats of 67 blocks in 12 districts and included 514 respondents. The respondents covered the whole state and the highest share of 34 per cent was from Shimla district followed by Solan, Chamba, Sirmaur and Mandi.
As many as 65.8 per cent respondents were in the age group of 18-25 years followed by 17.5 per cent in 26-35 years, 10.5 per cent in 36-45 bracket, 4.5 per cent in 46-55 years’ age group while 1.8 per cent were above 56 years.
Further, 73.2 per cent were from the general category, 15.6 per cent from the Scheduled Caste and 8.4 per cent from the Scheduled Tribe and 2.9 per cent OBC and the ratio of men and women was 73.2 per cent and 26.8 per cent.
INTERNATIONAL
Donald Trump becomes first US President to be impeached twice
Donald Trump has become the first US president to be impeached twice.
The House of Representatives voted to charge him with inciting last week’s mob attack on the US Congress.
Trump was impeached by 232 – 197 vote by the US House on a single charge of incitement of insurrection that left five dead and the Capitol ransacked.
It was supported by all Democrats and 10 Republicans, including Liz Cheney.
NATIONAL
Armed Forces Veterans Day: 14 January
In India, the Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed each year on 14 January since 2017.
The day is observed to acknowledge and honour the selfless devotion and sacrifice of our veterans in the service of the nation.
The day is observed as a mark of respect and recognition of the services rendered by Field Marshal KM Cariappa OBE, the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces who retired on 14 January 1953.
2021 marks the 5th Armed Forces Veterans Day.
Tesla incorporates fully owned subsidiary in Bengaluru for R&D unit and manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles
US-based Electric car maker Tesla has incorporated a fully owned subsidiary in Bengaluru as a first step to set up an R&D unit and a manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles in the country.
Tesla has registered its 100 per cent subsidiary, as – Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd, according to disclosures with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
It is a private unlisted company with an authorised capital of Rs 15,00,000 and a paid-up capital of Rs 1,00,000.
Tesla had originally planned its India entry back in 2016. It will enter India with the Model 3 Sedan, expectedly priced at around Rs 60 Lakh.
The vehicle is fully electric and is powered by a 60kw hour lithium-ion battery pack with a range of 500 km.
Cabinet clears purchase of 83 Tejas fighter jets for Indian Air Force
Government has approved procurement of 83 Light Combat Aircraft, LCA, Tejas worth about 48 thousand crore rupees from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for Indian Air Force.
The LCA-Tejas is going to be the backbone of the Indian Air Forces fighter fleet in the years to come.
HAL has already set-up second line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru Divisions.
About 500 Indian companies including MSMEs in the design and manufacturing sectors will be working with HAL in this procurement.
Cabinet approves MoU between India, UAE for scientific and technical cooperation
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technical cooperation between National Centre of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates and Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The MoU will enable sharing of knowledge, data and operational products for meteorological, seismological and oceanic services between both the countries.
This MoU will facilitate exchange of scientific and technical information, deployment of Meteorological observation networks over ocean, mutual cooperation in the development of special capacities and research of Tsunami models for faster and more reliable forecasts of Tsunamis.
NIC and CBSE jointly launched CollabCAD Software
National Informatics Centre and Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE jointly launched CollabCAD Software.
It will provide a total engineering solution for students and Faculty of Engineering Graphics Curriculum.
This initiative aims to provide a great platform to students across the country to create and modify 3D digital designs with a free flow of creativity and imagination.
This software will also enable students to collaborate over designs across the network and concurrently access the same design data for storage and visualization.