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Pb. Current Affairs

January 30, 2020

Topic:- Agriculture

News:-Monitor crop regularly to prevent yellow rust, scientists tell Punjab farmers.

Context:-During the current Rabi season, scientists of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, are surveying wheat crop as per the past practice for the early detection of yellow rust in the sub- mountainous districts of the state.

Aout Yellow Rust disease:-

Wheat yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) is currently the most damaging disease of wheat on the global scale. Under suitable conditions, yield losses of 60% or more are possible.
The disease is airborne and favourable weather conditions for the infection, development and spread of the disease were prevailing.

Prevention method:-

The disease appears in fields, spray the infected areas with recommended fungicides, such as Nativo 120g or Caviet 200g or Tilt/Shine/Bumper/Stilt/Compass/Markzole 200 ml in 200 litres of water. This will prevent the spread of disease in other areas.

(Source:- The Tribune)

Topic:- Economy

News: Punjab’s limited resources put a strain on expenditure, only 52% target met.

Results of the first nine months of this fiscal show govt left with little for welfare works.

Context:-

Hard-pressed for resources, the state government has been forced to drastically cut down on its spending. With the financial result for three-quarters of the ongoing fiscal out, the cash-strapped government has been able to spend just 52 per cent of its targeted expenditure for the year.
The state had set a target of spending Rs 90,196.96 crore, between April 2019-March 2020. The financial results, which have now been approved, reveal that the total spending on the revenue account is Rs 47,157.95 crore. Most of the money spent has gone only on meeting the committed liabilities, leaving little resources at the disposal of the government for initiating any development or welfare schemes.
Punjab Government introduced new curbs on expenditure. All departments have been barred from holding any programme in five-star hotels; buying new furniture; or travel on government expense to other states or abroad on study tours, conferences or workshops. All ministers and officers, who have charge of more than one department, have been asked to use official vehicle allotted for a particular department, and not keep as many vehicles at his/her disposal. They have also been instructed to work from their offices, rather than camp offices.

Finance Minister hopes for revenue:-

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, while presenting the Budget last year, had pegged his hopes on increasing the non-tax revenue during the year to fill the revenue gap. However, the non-tax revenue collection in the first nine months of the year is just 30.8 per cent of the target.

What is a Non-Tax revenue?

Non-Tax Revenue is the recurring income earned by the government from sources other than taxes.

Examples:-

Public income received through the administration, commercial enterprises, gifts and grants is the source of non-tax revenues of the government.

(Source:- The Tribune)

Topic:- Polity

News:-Right to health fundamental, fill vacant posts, HC directs Punjab.

Context:-In an order that will change the way healthcare facilities are treated, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today declared the right to health as a fundamental right before directing Punjab to fill the vacancies in the Hoshiarpur district hospital.

Judgement:-

The Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu also made it clear that it was a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The assertion comes at a time when a high-level panel, set up by the 15th Finance Commission, on reforms in the health sector recently suggested declaring the right to health as a fundamental right.

How did it start?

A petition filed in public interest by Shivam Sharma against the Union of India and other respondents on medical facilities available in Hoshiarpur district.
The Bench also set a two-month deadline for the purpose of filling the vacant posts in the Hoshiarpur district hospital. The Bench also directed the Union of India to take a final decision on upgrading Hoshiarpur district hospital into a medical hospital. The direction came after the Bench was told that the matter had been taken up by the state with the Centre.

(Source:-The Tribune)

Topic:-Sports

News:-First Sikh football cup kicks off in Amritsar today.

Christened as first Sikh Football Cup, the event is dedicated to the 550th ‘Parkash Purb’ of Guru Nanak. The opening match between the teams of Amritsar and Faridkot will be held at the Khalsa College ground. The event is being organised jointly by the Global Sikh Sports Federation and Khalsa Football Club.

Aim:-

The sole aim is to bring back the lost glory of ‘keshdhari’ players that once used to be a prominent part of Team India in every discipline. A general perception is that ‘keshdharis’ find it difficult to practice, which is not correct. We want to let it know that Punjabi players must retain their original identity with unshorn hair and beard.

(Source:- The Tribune)

Important Event:-

With a vision to encourage youth’s participation in the development and progress of the state, Department of Sports & Youth Services, Punjab is organizing a two day ‘Punjab State Youth Festival-2020’ at Chandigarh University, Gharuan on January 30 and 31, 2020. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will inaugurate the State level Youth Festival.