1. Mukhyamantri Alpsankhyak Udyami Yojna
Current Context: The Bihar Government on 25th September 2023 announced the launch of ‘Mukhyamantri Alpsankhyak Udyami Yojna’ for unemployed youths from the minority community.
Key Points:
• The scheme will be implemented on almost similar lines of the existing Mukhyamantri SC/ST/EBC Udyami Yojana, Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyami Yojna (MMUY) and the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana (MYUY).
• Under this scheme, the Bihar Government will provide Rs 10 lakh to an unemployed minority woman or man to start a new industry.
• Of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh would be a subsidy, while the rest would be a loan, to be returned in installments.
• Under the scheme, the department offers a grant of Rs. 5 lakh and arranges an equal amount of loan at a nominal interest rate (nil for women and 1% for men) for various kinds of businesses.
• The capital support scheme for entrepreneurs of minorities, which is offered by the department concerned, will, however, be discontinued.
2. CM Nitish Kumar laid Foundation Stones for Urban Infra Projects worth ₹2,616 crores
Current Context: Recently, the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launched 55 urban infrastructure projects, including the renovation of the Saidpur Drainage Network in Patna, worth ₹2,355.96 crores.
Key Points:
• It was held virtually at a function held at the Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC).
• All the schemes will be executed by the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (Buidco), the engineering arm of the UDHD.
• The Saidpur Drainage Network is being renovated under the Chief Minister’s Saat-Nischay-Part-2 Programme.
• Other projects include construction of storm water drainage networks, crematoriums and drinking water supply networks in different cities and towns.
• The CM has laid the foundation stone on as many as 10 storm water drainage network in Patna worth Rs. 1,283 crores.
• A sum of Rs. 586.44 crores would be spent on six storm water drainage network and water supply system in six towns.
• The rest Rs. 226.72 crores would be spent on building crematoriums in 38 urban local bodies across 36 districts under the Chief Minister Saath Nischaya-2 scheme.
3. Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat
Current context: On 24th September 2023, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Vande Bharat train service between Patna and the twin cities of Howrah-Kolkata in West Bengal through video conferencing.
Key Points:
• This is Bihar’s second Vande Bharat train, the first being the Patna-Ranchi service, which began on 27th June this year.
• Patna-Howrah Vande Bharat train is India's 30th Vande Bharat Express train.
• This train will operate during daytime and as per tentative plans, it will halt at Jasidih (Deoghar in Jharkhand) and Asansol (West Bengal) on the 535-km route.
• It’s expected to run at a speed of 90 kmph to 110 kmph and will cover the distance in 6 hours 30 minutes, reducing the current travel time of 8-10 hours in other trains.
4. IGIMS to offer free treatment
Current Context: Recently, the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna, decided to offer free-of-cost treatment to the patients soon.
About
• The state cabinet, at its meeting chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, approved the health department’s proposal to drop all kinds of charges on medical facilities being provided by the IGIMS.
• The patients enrolled for treatment will not be charged for medicines, surgery, pathological and other tests, and bed charge for admission in general wards.
• However, the patients are required to pay for the registration charge and bed charges for admission in private and deluxe wards.
• All the expenses incurred by the IGIMS in lieu of providing free of cost treatment to the patients would be borne by the government.
5. 28 New Traffic Police Stations to be set up
Current Context: Recently, the Cabinet has approved the proposal for setting up 28 new traffic police stations in the districts still uncovered by the facility and the creation of additional posts to man them.
Key Points:
• Currently, only 12 districts, including Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Bihar Sharif, Purnia, Ara and Muzaffarpur has dedicated traffic police stations.
• The new districts where traffic police stations will be opened are Kishanganj, Nawada, Siwan, Buxar, Madhubani, Jehanabad, Bhabua, Supaul, Saharsa, Jamui, Rohtas, Bettiah, Aurangabad, Araria, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Lukhisarai, Banka, Khagaria, Motihari, Madhepura, Arwal, Sheohar, and three police districts of Bagaha, Sheikhpura and Navgachhia.
6. Vice-President visited to Bihar on September 29
Current context: On 29th September 2023, Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankar visited Bihar to interact with students and faculty members of Nalanda University.
Key Points:
• He interacted with the students and faculty members of Nalanda University at an open house session.
• The institution is renowned for its academic excellence and rich historical significance.
• The Vice President’s engagement with the University community is expected to provide an opportunity for fruitful discussions and exchanges of ideas.
• He landed at Gaya airport by helicopter from where he left for Vishnupad temple by road.
• At Vishnupad, the Vice President and his wife Sudesh Dhankhar performed rituals for the salvation of the departed souls of their ancestors.
• This visit to Bihar reflects the Vice President’s commitment to engaging with diverse segments of society and fostering dialogue, knowledge sharing, and cooperation.
About Nalanda University:
• It was constructed during the Gupta dynasty's reign of Kumaragupta.
• On 15th July, 2016, this University has got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
