28th MARCH 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Construction Data Books - Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released the 8-volume construction data books prepared by the Public Works Department at the Secretariat today (March 27).
- Construction and engineering works in Tamil Nadu are being carried out by various departments. In each department, separate data books are in use, department-wise, to enable work to be carried out according to that department.
- After several meetings and detailed discussions, the committee has prepared 8-volume construction data books, namely Volume-1 Public Works Department, Volume-2 Public Works Department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Institutions Department, Volume-3 Highways Department and Tamil Nadu Drinking Water and Drainage Board, Volumes 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 - Chennai Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewerage Board.
- The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests has declared Kasampatti, located near the Alakarmalai Reserve Forest in Dindigul Forest, as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biodiversity Act 2002, and published a notification in the Official Gazette.
- This is the second Biodiversity Heritage Site to be declared in Tamil Nadu. It is noteworthy that Aritapatti in Madurai district was declared as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2022.
- Veera Kovil is a temple forest located in the heart of Kasampatti village, Natham taluk, Retiyapatti panchayat, Dindigul district. Spread over an area of 4.97 hectares, this temple forest has survived the test of time even today. Veera Kovil Temple is revered and protected by the local people as it is inhabited by the local deity “Veerana”
- These forests are a major source of biodiversity. These forests are home to a significant diversity of flora and fauna, including 48 plant species, 22 shrubs, 21 vines and 29 herbs, which contribute to the heritage richness of the forests.
- The Ministry of Defence has signed a procurement agreement worth around Rs 2,500 crore with Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited for procurement of anti-artillery platforms with Nag missile system tracking facility and with Force Motors & Mahindra & Mahindra for procurement of around 5,000 light vehicles for the armed forces.
- The agreements were signed under the section for procurement of indigenously designed and manufactured weapons in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh on March 27 in New Delhi.
- The agreement provides for procurement of NAK missile system with tracking capability, developed by the Central Organisation of Defence Research and Development, at a cost of Rs 1,801.34 crore.
- The measures are being taken to modernise the defence forces. This will help in improving the operational readiness of the defence forces. NAK missile system tracking anti-tank weapon system is a state-of-the-art anti-tank weapon system.
- The Union Cabinet for Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved construction of four-lane greenfield and brownfield road between Patna and Sasaram (120.10 km) in Bihar. The project will be constructed in hybrid mode at a cost of Rs. 3,712.40 crore.
- At present, the traffic on the road between Sasaram, Arrah and Patna is dependent on state highways. Due to this, there is heavy traffic congestion in various areas including Arrah city. Considering the increasing traffic demand in places like Arrah, Krahini, Bairo, Bikramganj, Mohar, Sasaram, 10.6 km of existing brownfield highway will be upgraded and green corridor will be created.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the release of additional installments of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Allowance Relief to Pensioners from 01.01.2025 to compensate for the rise in prices.
- The total cost impact to the government due to the increase in both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Allowance Relief is estimated to be Rs. 6614.04 crore per annum. This will benefit 48.66 lakh central government employees and 66.55 lakh pensioners.
- The pay hike has been given based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers to fix nutrient-based subsidy rates for phosphate and potassium fertilizers (01.04.2025 to 30.09.2025) during the Kharif season (01.04.2025 to 30.09.2025).
- The budgetary allocation for the Kharif season 2024 will be Rs. 37,216.15 crore. This is Rs. 13,000 crore more than the budget allocation for Rabi 2024-25.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the Electronics Manufacturing Scheme to make India self-reliant in the electronics supply chain with a financial assistance of Rs. 22,919 crore.
- The scheme aims to create a robust equipment ecosystem to attract large scale investments (global/domestic) in the electronics manufacturing sector by increasing domestic value addition through skill development, integration of Indian companies with global value chains.
- The Union Cabinet for Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Kosi Mechi Inter-State Irrigation Linkage Scheme in Bihar under the Pradhan Mantri Agro Irrigation Scheme – Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The Union Cabinet has approved the release of Rs. 3,652.56 crore as Central Government share to the State of Bihar for the completion of this scheme at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,282.32 crore by March 2029.
- Under the Kosi Mechi Inter-State Irrigation Linkage Scheme, a portion of the surplus water of the Kosi River will be diverted to the Mahananda basin in the state by re-designing and rehabilitating the existing East Kosi Main Canal.
- This irrigation linkage project will provide irrigation facilities to an additional 2,10,516 hectares of land during the Kharif season in Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj and Katihar districts of Bihar.
