Current Affairs 30th April 2016

Current Affairs 30th April 2016 - Important Points

• Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal launched which scheme in Madhya Pradesh - UJALA Scheme
• World's first graphene electronic paper is developed by - China 
• Which state government announced 10 percent reservation for EBCs in general category - Gujarat government
• Who partners with Germany for food security initiative – NABARD

Details - 

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal launched which scheme in Madhya Pradesh - UJALA Scheme

On 30 April 2016, Union Minister for State (IC) for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal launched National LED programme - Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) in Madhya Pradesh.

Piyush Goyal launched the programme along with the state CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a function in Bhopal.

This Ujala Scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Union Ministry of Power.

Know About UJALA Scheme

• Under this UJALA Scheme, 3 crore LED Bulbs will be distributed in the next 6 months in the State. People of Madhya Pradesh will get energy efficient 9W LED bulbs at an upfront payment of just 85 rupees per LED bulb.

• UJALA not only help to reduce consumers their electricity bills but also contribute to the energy security of India. The UJALA scheme is being monitored in a transparent manner through a national dashboard.

World's first graphene electronic paper is developed by - China 

In the last week of April, China developed a new electronic paper, which has been heralded as "the world's first graphene electronic paper.

This graphene electronic paper was developed by The Guangzhou OED Technologies in partnership with a company in Chongqing. It is going to be a huge breakthrough that will catapult the material to a new level.

In comparison to other traditional e-papers, graphene e-paper is more pliable and has more intensity and its high-light transmittance means optical displays will be much brighter.

Know About Graphene –

• Graphene is known for its world's strongest and lightest known material; a single layer of graphene is only about 0.335 nanometers thick, and it can conduct heat and electricity.

• This material can be used to create hard or flexible graphene displays, used in electronic products such as e-readers and wearable smart devices.

Which state government announced 10 percent reservation for EBCs in general category - Gujarat government

On 28 April 2016, Gujarat government declared 10 percent reservation for economically backward classes (EBCs) in general category.

Now economically backward classes (EBCs) in the upper castes, include Patidars, with a family income cap of 6 lakh rupees a year that is 50000 rupees per month can avail the benefit. 

However, this decision will breach the Supreme Court set reservation limit of 50 percent as the government is already providing 50 percent reservation to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Who partners with Germany for food security initiative – NABARD

NABARD which is known as The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has entered into collaboration with German Government for a special programme on ‘Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security’. 

This programme is a part of the German government’s recently introduced special initiative ‘One World, No Hunger’ initiative. As part of the collaboration NABARD is anchoring two programmes viz. Soil conservation and rehabilitation of degraded land programme in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Innovation of watershed development and climate change adaptation programmes in five states Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Know About NABARD – 

• NABARD is an apex development bank in India, having headquarters in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and other branches are all over the country. 

• CRAFICARD which is known as the committee to review arrangements for institutional credit for agriculture and rural development set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the chairmanship of Shri B. Sivaraman, conceived and recommended the establishment of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).