09.03.18 (GPSC) Gujrat Current Affairs

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GUJARAT

  • Gujarat’s open market power purchase doubles

 

  • Surge in demand of power amid reduced supply of electricity from private sector players has forced the state to step up power procurement from open market to meet the growing requirement. Gujarat purchased nearly 45 million units (MUs) or approximately 1,800MW of electricity from power exchanges on March 11, which is more than twice of 19 MUs (around 800MW) bought on the same day last year.

 

  • According to the data published by Western Regional Load Dispatch Center (WRLDC), a government of India enterprise, the state’s purchases from power exchanges stood at 45 MUs, 49 MUs and 31 MUs on March 10, 9 and 8, respectively. The amount of power bought by the state is double as compared to the same period last year.

 

  • Although power exchange consumers from Gujarat also include large industrial houses and other power distribution companies, state-run Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) accounts for over 80% of power purchased from exchanges.

 

  • Government sources also attributed higher demand and lower supply under power purchase agreement from two private sector power companies to increased purchase from power exchanges.

 

  • Adani Power Ltd and Essar Power Gujarat Ltd have not been supplying the contracted power of 2,000MW and 1,000MW, respectively, to GUVNL under PPAs for quite some time. Meanwhile, the power demand in the state has surged to 14,023MW on Sunday with rise in temperatures.

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • World Kidney Day 2018: 8 March

 

  • World Kidney Day is observed annually on the 2nd Thursday in March.

 

  • World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

 

  • World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

 

 

  • India to give UN $15.82m for Nepal quake reconstruction

 

  • India has pledged 15.82 million dollars in assistance to quake-ravaged Nepal for its massive reconstruction programme.

 

  • India signed an agreement in this regard with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to build 50000 homes for the quake victims.

 

  • As per the agreement, the Indian Government will give 8.41 million US dollars to the UNOPS and 7.41 Million US dollar to the UNDP.

 

 

·         UK college to teach Hinglish to students for jobs in India

 

  • UK’s Portsmouth Collegehas offered to teach its students ‘Hinglish‘, a mix of Hindi and English languages, becoming the country’s first educational institutionto do so.
  • The course is being introduced partly due to India’s growing economic importance and to prepare British students who may take up jobs in India or in Indian companies based in the UK.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • PM launches National Nutrition Mission

 

  • On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, launched the National Nutrition Mission, and expansion of the coverage of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

 

  • He also interacted with beneficiary mothers and girl children of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme.

 

  • The Prime Minister awarded certificates to the best performing districts under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme.

 

 

  • Government announces launch of ‘SUVIDHA’

 

  • Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ananth kumar announced the launch of ‘Suvidha’, the 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

 

  • The affordable sanitary napkin will be available for Rs. 2.50 per pad at over 3200 Janaushadhi Kendras across India and would ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’for the underprivileged Women of India.

 

  • This step taken by the Department of Pharmaceuticals will ensure the achievement of Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Affordable and Quality Healthcare for All.

 

 

  • Udyam Sakhi Portal Launched for Women Entrepreneurs

 

  • On the occasion of International Women’s Day today, March 8,the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) launched a portal for women entrepreneursof India: www.udyamsakhi.org.

 

  • The portal was unveiled by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of MSME, Giriraj Singh, in a program.

 

  • The Minister said that India has around 8 million women who have started and are running their own businesses and the Ministry of MSME believes that the women in India can play a vital role in the growth of the Indian economy.

 

  • The portal is a network for nurturing entrepreneurship and creating business models for low cost products and services in order to empower women and make them self-reliant and self-sufficient.

 

  • Delhi Police launches All Women Patrolling Squad to strengthen women safety

 

  • On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Delhi police launched an “All-women patrolling squad”.

 

  • With the motto – Be the change, you want to see – wearing on their sleeves, the women suad riding mean machine in Delhi’s south district aims to protect women from cat-callers and instil a sense of confidence among women.

 

  • The squad was launched in the form of a ‘road trip’ from Sarojni Nagar to Select Citywalk Mall in Saket.
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