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Daily Current Capsules - 28th December 2019

State Specific
Himachal Pradesh Global Investors' Meet
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the global Investor's meet and benefits of it) + Mains (GS II Centre -state relations - steps taken by the centre for promoting economic affairs in states)

What's the NEWS
  • Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah addresses the 1st Ground Breaking Ceremony of Himachal Pradesh Global Investors' Meet at Shimla
Know! more about the Global Investor meet
  • The Global Investor Meet 2019 is the flagship business event of the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The State will be organizing the inaugural edition of the marquee event at Dharamshala
  • In this event Himachal will showcase the policy & regulatory environment, investment opportunities across eight focus sectors to boost manufacturing and employment generation in the state.
  • The state is in accelerated socio- economic growth phase and has transitioned from agrarian economy to an industry and services led economy.
  • Abundance of industrial power that is amongst the cheapest in the country, open and progressive policies of the State Government backed by fast track project clearances, continuous investment in upgradation of infrastructure development, human capital and social welfare has made Himachal Pradesh as the preferred destination in India for entrepreneurs.
  • The Himachal Pradesh government is inviting the investors for tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, and pharmaceutical sectors.
  • Himachal Pradesh is leading in hydel power generation which supplies power 24 hours a day along with peaceful atmosphere, law-abiding citizens, surplus supply of water and good connectivity.
  • The Home Minister addressed the function at the groundbreaking ceremony of 250 projects totaling 13,000 crore rupees.
Infrastructure Development
First Trial Run of Double Stack Train conducted on newly built Rewari-Madar section of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)

Relevance IN - Prelims (about WDFC and DFC) + Mains (GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS
  • An inaugural Trial-Run of Indian Railways (IR) freight train on the newly built Rewari-Madar section of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering a distance of about 306 kms (Total 663 track Km) was conducted
  • Railways has already done a trial run of BOXNS cargo wagons at 110 Kmph, trial runs are being conducted on the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) tracks.
Know! more about it
  • DFCCIL will run freight trains at the maximum speed of 100 Kmph hour as against the current maximum speed of 75 kmph on Indian Railway tracks whereas the average speed of freight trains will also be increased from existing speed of 26 kmph on Indian Railways lines to 70 kmph on Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC).
  • The opening of this stretch will benefit various industries in Rewari - Manesar, Narnaul, Phulera & Kishangarh areas of Rajasthan & Haryana.
  • In addition to this, the container depot of CONCOR at Kathwas will also come on DFC map and get advantage in terms of faster throughput.
  • Heavy haul train operation with 32.5 Ton axle load has been envisaged for the first time in India (currently practiced only in USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, Russia South-Africa and Sweden-Norway)

Double stack containers (benefits)
  • Double line electric (2 X 25 KV) track to undertake higher haulage at higher speeds
  • Automated New Track Construction (NTC) machine with record single day track laying of more than 3 km.
  • More Powerful Locomotives 7000 kW (9000 HP) CO-CO 6 axles
  • Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) for safe and efficient operation
  • Elimination of road crossing
  • Connecting Multi Modal Logistic Hubs and Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
  • Water Conservation through Rainwater harvesting in all the stations and RUBs (road under bridge)
  • Reduced Energy Consumption using latest technology
  • Recycling and Re-use - Construction materials and Waste management
  • Green Initiatives - developed as "Low Carbon & Energy Efficient Green Transportation" with reduce GHG emissions w.r.t. freight transportation by existing rail and road system
  • Exclusive operation for freight trains.
Unification of existing Railway services
  • The Union Government has planned for the unification of eight services of Indian Railways from junior level to HAG+.
  • Other administrative decisions are also being implemented based on the recommendations made by Prakash Tandon Committee (1994).
Know! about DFCCIL
  • The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) corporation run by government of India's Ministry of Railway to undertake planning, development, and mobilisation of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors.
  • The DFCCIL was registered as a company under the Companies Act 1956 in 2006.
  • It is both enabler and beneficiary of other key Government of India Schemes, such as Industrial corridor, Make in India, Start up India Stand up India ,Sagarmala , Bharat mala UDAN-RCS Digital India and Bharat Net
State Specific
Losar Festival

Relevance IN - Prelims (about LOSAR festival)
What's the NEWS
  • Union Territory of Ladakh is celebrating Losar Festival on 27 December 2019, to mark the Ladakhi or Tibetan New Year.
Know! more about Losar festival
  • The holiday is celebrated on various dates depending on location (Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan) tradition.
  • The holiday is a new year's festival, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to a date in February or March in the Gregorian calendar.
  • Losar Festival is celebrated in the 11th month of Tibetan calendar. Devotees make symbolic meals and offerings and decorate houses with good luck signs.
  • Buddhist community prayed for longevity and prosperity on this auspicious occasion. Losar is an important festival that attracts tourists in large numbers.
  • Until 2018, Losar gathering use to have ‘UT Status for Ladakh' as a resolution for New Year.
  • This year, it will be joyous Losar festival celebrations in newly born Union Territory Ladakh. Losar festival, which has its origin in 15th century, is also observed in all Himalayan states of country but in different times.
  • People of various parts of Ladakh region, annually celebrate Losar Festival on 1st Day of Eleventh Month of Tibetan Calendar correlating to a date in Gregorian calendar. The celebrations continue for 3-9 days in different parts of Ladakh.
  • The festival is regarded as the most important socio-religious event of Ladakh. It is also one of the major attractions for tourists in winter season, as the festival coupled with several ritual performances and traditional events.
  • Ladakh Buddhist Association in collaboration with Union Territory Administration is also organizing a grand celebration at Chokanga Vihara in Leh

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