GS PAPER II NEWS
Ganga Express Way
Why in News
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- Recently the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of 594 km long Ganga Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur to be constructed at a cost of Rs 36,200 crore.
Key point
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- This expressway is being described as historic with a view to remove development and economic imbalance, create employment opportunities and increase per capita income.
- The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement that the Prime Minister’s vision to provide fast connectivity across the country has been the driving force behind the construction of this expressway.
- Earlier Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated Poorvanchal Express in Sultanpur district on 16 November last month. Ganga Expressway is also being considered as a part of their Gatishakti plan.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi after laying the foundation stone of Ganga Expressway said that this expressway will open new doors of progress in UP. The PM said that Maa Ganga is the source of all auspiciousness and all progress. Maa Ganga gives all the happiness, and takes away all the pain. Similarly, Ganga Expressway will also open new doors of progress for UP.
Ganga Express Way
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- Ganga Expressway is said to be the longest expressway of Uttar Pradesh.
- Its length will be 594 km. Ganga Expressway will pass through 12 districts of UP from Meerut to Prayagraj.
- This expressway will connect the eastern and western regions of UP. This expressway will start from Bijauli village of Meerut on Meerut-Bulandshahr road (NH-334) and end near Judapur Dandu village on Prayagraj bypass (NH-19).
- The construction of Ganga Expressway will cost more than Rs 36,200 crore. The expressway will also have a 3.5 km runway to assist in emergency take-off and landing of Air Force aircraft.
- This expressway will pass through 12 districts of Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh and Prayagraj.
GS PAPER II
International migrant day
Why in News
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- International Migrants Day is celebrated every year on 18 December. The main objective of this day is to educate people that it is one of the basic requirements to treat every migrant with respect.
Main point
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- The day aims to raise awareness about the challenges and difficulties faced by international migrants.
- Every year the United Nations invites governments, organizations and people who have played a leading role in this field.
- The purpose of International Migrants Day is to share people’s views on issues such as freedom, work and human rights related to migrant workers.
- Its purpose is to ensure the safety of migrant workers as well as to prepare an action plan for the future.
- The theme of International Migrants Day for the year 2021 is ‘Harnessing the potential of human mobility’. According to the report more than 15.6 million Indians live abroad.
Who are the migrants?
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- When a citizen of any country leaves his country and settles in another country in search of work, then he is called migrant.
- For example, if an Indian citizen goes to America, Saudi or any other country and settles there, then it is called NRI. There are some countries including America, China, Russia, and Japan, where a large number of migrants from all over the world settle.
International migrant day
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- The number of international migrants or people living in a country other than their country of birth reached 272 million in 2019.
- A United Nations report has claimed that Indians have the largest number of diaspora in the world. According to the report more than 15.6 million Indians live abroad. Since the year 2014 till now more than 5000 people have suffered life loss for better life and protection.
- About 31 percent of the international migrants worldwide are in Asia, 30 percent in Europe, 26 percent in the Americas, 10 percent in Africa and 3 percent in Oceania.
History of International Migrants Day
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- The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Family Members was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1990. The United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 2000, in view of the increasing number of migrants all over the world, declared 18 December to be celebrated as International Migrants Day.
- UN member states in October 2013 unanimously adopted a Declaration on Recognizing the Contribution of Migration to Development during the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
GS PAPER III
Nuclear power potential
Why in News
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- The central government said on 16 December 2021 that India’s current nuclear power capacity is 6,780 MW and it plans to increase it to 22,480 MW by 2031.
Key point
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- The central government said on 15 December 2021 that India’s installed nuclear power capacity has increased from 4,780 MW to 6,780 MW in the last seven years, an increase of over 40 percent.
- This information was given by the Minister of State for Space and Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
- Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh also said that a three-phase indigenous nuclear power program is being implemented to provide long-term energy security to the country in a sustainable manner.
- India’s installed nuclear power capacity has increased from 4,780 MW to 6,780 MW in the last seven years, an increase of over 40 per cent.
- The Minister of State for Atomic Energy said that the current installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 6780 MW and the share of nuclear power in the country’s total electricity generation was around 3.1 percent in the year 2020-21.
- Nuclear power is planned to be increased to 22480 MW by the year 2031 on the sequential completion of the under construction and sanctioned projects.
- Nuclear energy is clean and environment friendly besides having great potential for ensuring long term energy security of the country.
- The nuclear power plant has so far generated 755 million units of electricity and thus got rid of 650 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
- The government has taken several measures to increase the production of nuclear power in the country.
- These include granting administrative approval and financial sanction for 10 indigenous heavy water reactors. He said that the possibility of thorium based alternative fuel is being continuously explored.
GS PAPER III
National Green Authority
Why in News
- Delhi government will cancel the registration of all diesel vehicles completing 10 years on January 01, 2022.
Key point
- In compliance with the directions of the National Green Authority (NGT), the Delhi government will deregister all diesel vehicles completing 10 years on January 01, 2022.
- Government will issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for such vehicles so that they can be re-registered at other places.
- According to an order issued by the Delhi Transport Department earlier this week, no NOC will be issued for diesel vehicles that have completed 15 years or more of registration.
- The National Green Authority (NGT) had in July 2016 issued a ban on registration and plying of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR.
- In the order issued by the Delhi Transport Department, it has also been said that the owners of such 10 years old diesel vehicles or 15 years old petrol vehicles will have the option to convert them to electric vehicles.
- A few weeks ago, the Delhi government announced that it would allow retrofitment of old diesel and petrol vehicles with EV kits.
- The Supreme Court on 29 October 2018 had ordered a ban on 15-year-old petrol vehicles and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi.
- Earlier in the year 2014, the NGT had ordered that vehicles older than 15 years should not be given space for parking in public places.
- According to the Delhi government, now the registration of all such vehicles will be terminated strictly from January 1, 2022.
- According to an order issued by the Delhi Transport Department earlier this week, no NOC will be issued for diesel vehicles which have completed 15 years or more as on the date of applying for it.