TNPSC 5th JANUARY 2023 ENGLISH CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS

 

Phase 2 Metro Rail Project - Asian Development Bank Rs 2,900 crore loan facility

• Construction of flyovers, subways and metro stations is actively underway at more than 40 places in Chennai. The works are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
• In this case, the Asian Development Bank has offered to provide a loan of about Rs. 2 thousand 900 crores for the expansion of this project. The central government and the bank officials recently signed an agreement for this.
• Through this deal, a huge amount will now be put on loan. A multi-tiered financing program (MFF) worth around $780 million has been approved by the Asian Development Bank for construction of new metro rail lines in Chennai. As part of this scheme, a loan of Rs 2,900 crore is to be approved as the first tranche.
• This loan will help in specific project works on 3 lines of Chennai Metro Rail Project. 10.1 km from Madhavaram-Sirucherry Chipgat to Choshinganallur-Sirucherry Chipgat on Route 3. The project will be carried out for a distance of 9 stations.
• 10 km between Kalangaraivilakkam-Meenakshi College on Route 4. A long tunnel is to be constructed. Route 5 is to be constructed between CMPD - Okkyam Duraipak.

Allocation of Rs 12,882 crore to North Eastern States - Union Cabinet approves

• To continue implementation of various welfare schemes of Ministry of North East Development during the remaining period of 15th Finance Commission (from 2022-23 to 2025-26), Rs. 12882.2 crore has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• The Finance Committee on Expenditure in its recommendation had earmarked Rs 8139.5 crore for the North East Special Infrastructure Project. It is noteworthy that most of the North Eastern states are located in the border areas.
• The Union Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a new scheme for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26 called 'Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North Eastern Region'. The Ministry of North Eastern Regional Development will implement this new scheme which is 100 percent centrally funded.
• The plan allocation for this four-year period will be Rs.6600 crore. As efforts are being made to complete the projects by 2025-26, there will be no work to complete after this.
• Funding for this will be sanctioned in the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. The expenditure will continue through the years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Focus will be on completing the works by this year.
• The new 'Prime Minister's Development Initiative for the North-East Region' will lead to development of infrastructure, ancillary industries, social development projects, employment generation and livelihood schemes for youth and women. States including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram will benefit from this.

The Prime Minister addressed the first All India State Ministers' Conference on Water through video

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the first All India State Ministers' Conference on Water through video.
• Water Vision @ 2047 is the theme of this conference. The conference aims to bring together key policy makers to discuss ways to conserve water resources for sustainable development and human development.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister spoke about India's immense contribution towards water conservation and highlighted the importance of the first All India Conference of Water Resources Ministers of the country.
• The Prime Minister also pointed out that in our constitution, the subject of water comes under the control of the state governments and the efforts of the state governments in water conservation will go a long way in achieving the collective goals of the country.
• "Water Vision @ 2047 is an important dimension of Amritsar's journey for the next 25 years," the Prime Minister noted. Water Resources Ministers of all states participated in the first All India State Ministerial Annual Conference on Water.

Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station has been awarded the 'Eat at the Right Station' award with 5 star status by the Food Safety and Quality Commission of India

• Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station has been awarded 'Eat at the Right Station' with 5 star status by the Food Safety and Quality Commission of India for providing high quality nutritious food to passengers.
• The railway station is awarded 5 star status to ensure safe and clean food to passengers. Other Railway Stations with star certification - Anand Vihar Railway Station (Delhi); Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, Chandigarh Railway Station