Important News - 2025-04-24
24 April 2025
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Schemes (2)
Telangana Plans Crop Insurance Schemes from Next Kharif Season, Studies PMFBY Model
The State government of Telangana has initiated efforts to implement crop insurance schemes starting from the next Kharif season. The government is studying the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and other crop insurance models adopted by various states to formulate effective modalities. A preliminary meeting was held on Wednesday, chaired by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, with officials from the Agriculture Department and the Rythu Commission. The aim is to extend crop insurance coverage to nearly all farmers in the state, as promised in the Congress party’s election manifesto. The state is proposed to be divided into 11 clusters based on risk factors for Kharif and Rabi crops. For Kharif, the normal extent is estimated at 130 lakh acres, including paddy, cotton, maize, and others, while Rabi covers 78 lakh acres. Under PMFBY guidelines, farmers will pay 2% of the premium for Kharif, 1.5% for Rabi, and 5% for horticultural crops, with the remaining premium shared equally by the state and central governments. The schemes aim to mitigate losses due to untimely rain, excess rain, deficient rain, and hailstorms. The minister emphasized the need for yield-based insurance for crops like paddy, maize, and soybean, and weather-based insurance for cotton, chilli, and mango. Additionally, guidelines for estimating losses using technology were discussed to ensure timely compensation for farmers.
Hyderabad Metro Launches TUTEM App to Enhance Women’s Safety in Public Transport
The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) is set to launch a new mobile application named TUTEM (Technologies for Urban Transit to Enhance Mobility and Safe Accessibility) to enhance women’s safety during metro travel. The app, developed with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and in collaboration with BITS Pilani-Hyderabad, Hyderabad Police, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, and HMR, aims to ensure safe transportation for women from their homes to their final destinations. The app includes a ‘Driver App’ and a ‘User App’ to cover pre and post-metro travel, such as walking, two-wheeler rides, cars, buses, or auto-rickshaws. In case of any safety concerns, women can promptly alert the police control center and their family members through the app. The initiative, guided by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s focus on public safety, also emphasizes addressing socio-economic issues through technological solutions. HMR, which transports nearly half a million people daily, has been providing eco-friendly travel options for the past seven years. The app’s features are designed to ensure safety even during late-night hours, and technical experts are working to extend this initiative to other cities in the future.
Politics (4)
Karnataka High Court Directs Removal of Unauthorized Emblems and Symbols from Vehicles
The Karnataka High Court has issued a directive to the State government to issue a public notice through print and visual media, instructing the removal of all unauthorized flags, emblems, names, symbols, stickers, seals, and logos from public and private vehicles within four weeks. The court also mandated the Central and State governments to frame regulations for imposing fines and cancelling driving licences for violations related to the misuse of national emblems and symbols. The court expressed concern over the misuse of such symbols by former MPs, MLAs, and other constitutional functionaries even after they demit office. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice M.I. Arun, issued these directions while disposing of a PIL petition filed by the High Court Legal Services Committee. The PIL highlighted the illegal use of names like 'Human Rights Commission' by private individuals and NGOs, which misleads the public into believing they are vehicles of public authorities. The court emphasized the need to enforce the provisions of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005. Additionally, the court directed the traffic police to be educated and trained to take penal action against such violations and suggested involving school children and law students in spreading awareness against the misuse of national emblems and symbols.
14 Maoists Surrender in Hanamkonda Under Telangana’s Rehabilitation Policy
On Thursday, 14 Maoists, including Madivi Andha alias Rajesh, a member of the Galikonda Area Committee of the banned CPI (Maoist) Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), surrendered before the police in Hanamkonda, Telangana. The group included two CPI (Maoist) Area Committee Members (ACMs), seven party members, one militia commander, and four militia members. They surrendered to Inspector General of Police, Multi Zone-I, Hyderabad, S. Chandrasekhar Reddy, at the Warangal Police Commissionerate office in the presence of Warangal Police Commissioner Sunpreet Singh. The surrendered Maoists were reportedly involved in various incidents of Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. According to the police, they were motivated to leave the banned outfit and join the mainstream due to the Telangana government’s rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists. Since January 2024, 18 armed Maoists, including three State committee members, have died in separate incidents of ‘exchange of fire’ in Telangana. Additionally, 12 Maoists of various cadres have been arrested, and 250 Maoists, including a State committee member, have surrendered in the state this year.
Former Karnataka Minister Begane Ramaiah Passes Away at 89
Begane Ramaiah, former Minister of Karnataka and a prominent political figure, passed away at the age of 89 in a private hospital in Bengaluru on Thursday. He had been battling age-related health issues for the past 15 days. Ramaiah was first elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Sringeri in 1978 and served as the Minister for Rural Development. He is survived by his wife, Seetha, and their children, Arathi Krishna and Anjan. Arathi Krishna currently serves as the deputy chairperson of the NRI forum of the Karnataka government. The final rites will be held at the family-owned Seetha Farm in Hosahalli near Shivamogga on Friday at 3 p.m.
BBMP Introduces New SoP to Combat Illegal Hoardings in Bengaluru
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to tackle the issue of illegal hoardings in Bengaluru. This updated framework replaces the previous system and aims to streamline efforts to remove unauthorised advertisements, such as flexes, banners, and cut-outs. The SoP establishes dedicated BBMP advertisement control teams in each zone, comprising junior, assistant, and assistant executive engineers. These teams will collaborate with marshals, Home Guards, and local police to identify, remove, and penalise violators. Assistant executive engineers will oversee operations, and ward-level engineers will lodge complaints with police stations. In cases of staff shortages, contract workers may be deployed. BBMP officials are authorised to recover the cost of removing advertisements and impose penalties by treating them as property tax arrears under Section 161 of the BBMP Act, 2020. Additionally, no advertisement can be displayed without written permission from the BBMP Chief Commissioner, as per Section 158 of the BBMP Act, 2020. A dedicated control room will operate in each assistant executive engineer’s office to receive public complaints via phone or the BBMP help app (1533). Police stations must appoint nodal officers to coordinate with BBMP teams, and enforcement personnel, such as Hoysala patrolling units, are required to report illegal advertisements. Immediate action, including removal and filing of FIRs under laws such as the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, Indian Penal Code, and Public Property Damage Act, will be taken. The SoP mandates 24/7 availability of advertisement control personnel, with regular reviews by the BBMP Commissioner and Police Commissioner.
Appointments (1)
Dr. Thallada Bhaskar Appointed Director of CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal
Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, a renowned scientist from Telangana, has been appointed as the Director of the CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI) in Bhopal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Bhaskar, who hails from Thurpugudem village in Suryapet district, holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Osmania University and a Ph.D. from CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT). He previously served as the Chief Scientist and Head of the Material Resource Efficiency Division at CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) in Dehradun. Dr. Bhaskar is a recipient of the National Award for Technology Innovation from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), Telangana Academy of Sciences, and several international scientific societies.
World Affairs (1)
Indian National Jain Kurian Escapes Forced Enlistment in Russian Army Amid Russia-Ukraine War
Jain Kurian, a 28-year-old Indian national, has returned to his hometown Wadakkancherry after a harrowing ordeal in Russia. Kurian, who was forcibly enlisted into the Russian Army, sustained severe injuries in the Russia-Ukraine war zone. After three months of recovery in a Moscow hospital, he was ordered to return to his army unit, which would have meant being sent back to the war front. With the assistance of the Indian Embassy and the Malayali Association in Russia, Kurian managed to escape by obtaining an emergency certificate and a flight ticket. He reached the Moscow airport instead of reporting to the army camp. Kurian’s cousin, Binil Babu, was killed in the war, and Kurian himself narrowly survived a drone strike on January 7, which caused severe internal bleeding and required multiple surgeries. Kurian’s experience highlights the dangers faced by individuals lured by illegal recruitment networks promising better job opportunities in Russia.
Awards (1)
APSDRF Secures Third Prize in National Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue Competition
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (APSDRF) achieved third place in the national-level Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) competitions, held in Ghaziabad. A total of eight teams participated in the final round of the competition, with APSDRF securing the third prize. Inspector General of Police (IGP) B. Rajakumari confirmed the team's performance, while Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta commended the APSDRF for their achievement. The recognition was officially announced by APSDRF officials in a press release on Thursday.
Miscellaneous (1)
KITE Launches Third Batch of 'AI Essentials' Online Training from May 10
The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) is set to launch the third batch of its online training program, 'AI Essentials,' on May 10, 2024. This four-week course aims to equip participants with practical skills in using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for everyday tasks, including office work, social media content creation, and applications in arts, music, and literature. The program also covers prompt engineering and responsible AI practices. Applications can be submitted on the official KITE website, www.kite.kerala.gov.in, until May 3, 2024. Admission is limited to the first 2,500 registrants, with a course fee of ₹2,360, inclusive of GST. Participants will receive video classes, resources, and weekly online contact classes. Upon successful completion, a certificate will be awarded.
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