UTTAR PRADESH

• Modern irrigation techniques can reduce water usage by 50%

• Water could be saved by up to 50% in farms if suitable irrigation techniques were adopted, said experts at a workshop organised by the central water commission (CWC).

• When water travels through earth, a lot of it gets soaked and is wasted. However, if a technique such as drip irrigation is used, water will directly go into the roots of the crops. Thus, less water will be required to irrigate the entire field. Also, the fertiliser too wouldn’t go deep inside the ground along with excess water.

• For farmers with land measuring less than two acres, the central government gave 50% and the state government gave 40% subsidy, resulting in farmers having to bear just 10% of the cost, they said. For farmers owning more than two acre land, the total subsidy amounted to 80%. 

  INTERNATIONAL

   

   

  ·        Bangladesh’s PM Hasina wins third straight

   

  • Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasinahas secured her third consecutive term, with her alliance winning 287 of the 298 seats for which results have been declared for the 300-strong parliament.
  • The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which boycotted the 2014 poll, has won just six seats in the general election held on December 30.

   

  ·        Uzbekistan promotes 2019 as year of investment in backdrop of wider business with India

   

  • President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced 2019 as the ‘Year of Active Investment and Social Development’ in the backdrop of proposed investments from India to boost the economy of the Central Asian country, in his annual address to the Parliament.
  • The President stated that concrete measures will be taken on creating an open economy, radically improving the business environment and investment climate and reducing the state presence in the economy.
  • He stressed that investment was the driver of the economy, new technologies, advanced experience, and highly qualified specialists come with investments into all sectors and regions.

   

   

   

  NATIONAL

   

  ·        Delhi Police becomes first police force in India to digitise all malkhanas

   

  • With the launch of ‘E-Malkhana’ in the remaining 10 districts at Chinamaya Mission, the Delhi Policehas become first in country to have digitalised malkhana in Police Stations of its all districts.
  • Malkhanas are rooms for keeping seized arms and ammunition.
  • According to the release, around 3,11,600 case properties have been encrypted in digital form across all the police stations in the state.

   

  ·        Sports Ministry embarks Rs 100 cr for funding athletes under TOPS

   

  • The Sports Ministry has earmarked Rs 100 crorefor the funding of athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for their preparations for 2020 Olympics, according to Sports Authority of India Director General Neelam Kapur.
  • The TOPS, which was launched in September 2014, is a flagship programme of the sports ministry to provide financial assistance to potential Olympic medal winners.
  • Athletes have also been given financial assistance to prepare for Commonwealth Gamesand Asian Games under the TOPS.

   

  ·        Transgenders can file sexual harassment case under IPC

   

  • Delhi High Courthas allowed that Section 354A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) can be used by transgenders to register complaints of sexual harassment.
  • According to the police, there was a lack of an appropriate penal section under which they could register such a complaint.

   

  ·        Government doubles export incentives for onion farmers to 10 percent

   

  • Government has doubled the export incentives for onion farmers from existing 5 percentto 10 percent.
  • This is the result of steep drops in recent weeks in the prices for onions, a staple food in India.
  • The export incentive for fresh Onions was zero before July, 2018. During July this year, the incentives were introduced at the rate of five percent. The Ministry said, now, with the current increase, Onions enjoy one of the highest incentives for Agro-exports.

   

   

  ·        NHRC launches toll free helpline 14433 facility to file complaint through CSC

   

  • National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)launched a toll-free number 14433 and a facility to file complaints through Common Service Center (CSC).
  • The toll-free number is 14433 and has been unveiled by Justice (retd.) H.L.Dattu, Chairperson of NHRC at the headquarters of the body, Manav Adhikar Bhawan.
  • People can now send their complaints related to human rights violation through both the toll-free number and CSCs, although the toll-free number will only be available during office hours.
  • A collaboration between NHRC and CSC has been formed and the service has been provided to 750 CSCs with at least one in each district. Secretary-General of NHRC.