22nd, April, 2022
Topic: Banking Facility
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims
What is the news?
- HDFC Bank opened its first branch at Keylong.
Why important?
- This is the first branch of a private bank in the district of Lahaul and Spiti which was inaugurated by DC Neeraj Kumar.
About HDFC branches in Himachal:
- The first branch of the bank in Himachal opened its doors in Sanjauli in Shimla in 2004. At present, the bank has 82 branches in 11 districts of the state.
(Source: HP Tribune)
Topic: Good Governance
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- System for online sale of Himachal’s farm produce soon: Agriculture Secretary
- Rakesh Kanwar, Agriculture Secretary and State Project Director of Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) shared:
- Range of produce being grown with the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) technique would be identified and sold after proper packaging and branding so that farmers get better prices in the market.
- 10 ‘mandis’ had been marked for the sale of natural farm produce in the state. This would solve the marketing problems of the farmers, who had adopted the SPNF technique.
- Some organizations have shown interest in purchasing the natural products of the Himachal and the environment-friendly natural agriculture is picking up. The state government has given much importance to the Yojana and laid down targets for the current financial year.
What is Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) technique?
- Indian Subhash Palekar has developed a sophisticated agricultural method that runs completely free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- He has called it the Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)-Method. As the name suggests, it has no associated costs, as the required ingredients are provided by the environment.
(Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Self Help Groups
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- Bhuttico extends its support for self-help groups.
- Bhuttico: One of the Asia’s famous handloom cooperative societies.
- Former minister Satya Prakash Thakur, who is also the chairman of Bhuttico, one of the Asia’s famous handloom cooperative societies, announced that handloom and handicraft products of various self-help groups (SHGs) will also be available across various showrooms of Bhuttico in the country.
Chairman announces to market their products:
- Former minister Satya Prakash Thakur, who is also the chairman of Bhuttico, said Bhuttico would diversify in producing and marketing handicraft products as well.
- He said the name of the society would also be changed accordingly to Bhutti Weavers Handloom and Handicraft Co-operative Society Limited.
Kullu Addl District Magistrate Parshant Sirkek said Bhuttico was internationally famous and could provide support to other societies and SHGs to improve their economic stability.
(Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Smart Cities
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj on Thursday said that the Smart City Mission has put forward a successful model of solar energy.
- The solar power system has been installed in 66 government buildings across Shimla town under Smart City Mission and power bill of Rs. 1.85 crore has been saved.
- The Smart City Mission has transformed Shimla town.
How this is linked with Smart City Project?
- Under the Mission, there was a component to promote solar power in the city. First, we had shortlisted government buildings across the town and then started the process to install solar power systems through HIMURJA, the nodal agency for solar power in the state.
- Urban Development Minister said that the first solar power system under Smart City Mission was installed in January 2019 in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU). So far, solar power systems have been installed on 66 government buildings. The total capacity of these installed solar power systems is 2500 kWh.
(Source: HP Government)
Some More News:
1) Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar honored the ‘Harmony of the Pines’ Orchestra of Himachal Pradesh Police, who have brought laurels to the nation by not only representing the State police force, but also to the nation with their stellar performance in Colors TV’s reality show ‘Hunarbaaz’ in Mumbai. He presented him the ‘Prernastrot Puraskar’
2) Students of St John’s High School, Chandigarh, reached Solan today as part of a cycle expedition from Chandigarh to Shimla to create awareness on sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
3) The compost prepared in Kandaiwala school (Sirmaur) neither smells nor is there any insects in it. For this, a tank has been made in the school with a unique technology to prepare manure in an aerobic (with oxygen) way.
4) Researchers from IIT Mandi and Central Potato Research Center (CPRI) Shimla have developed such a mobile app, in which artificial intelligence will get information about whether the plant is diseased or healthy by taking a photo of the leaf.