Why in news?

• In order to accelerate the penetration of renewable energy in the states, the Union Cabinet recently approved the second phase of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC). The projects in this phase would be set up in seven states to expedite the transmission of renewable energy.

About Green Energy Corridor (GEC)

• GEC is an alternative transmission system for renewable energy (RE) power projects. During the first phase of GEC, inter-state transmission projects were constructed by state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and some projects were awarded to private players through competitive bidding.
• The second phase will aim to add approximately 10,750 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines and approx. 27,500 Mega Volt-Amperes (MVA) transformation capacity of substations. The cost of the current phase is estimated at Rs 12,031.33 crore and Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of 33 percent of the project cost i.e. Rs 3,970.34 crore.

Why in news?

• January 11 marks the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who passed away on this day in 1966, in Tashkent, in present day Uzbekistan

About Lal Bahadur Shastri

• As the country’s second PM, Lal Bahadur Shastri held the chair from June 1964 till his untimely demise.
• The nation’s second Prime Minister, who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru, was known for his simplicity and honesty, and was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, becoming its first posthumous recipient.

Why in news?

• Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has ordered experts to find a way to extinguish a fire in a huge natural gas crater, the Darvaza gas crater also known as the ‘Gateway to Hell’.

Why in news?

• National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is celebrated on January 11 of every year. It’s a day to create awareness about sexual slavery and human trafficking worldwide.

About National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

• National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is created to end these slaveries and make sure that every individual has their rights and make the world a safer place for all people.
• Now, nearly 20-30 million people were enslaved in the world, which is more than any time in human history.
• Slavery is recognized every day in the way of young women forced into prostitution; migrant workers are exploited in the workforce and children become soldiers.
• Hence National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is created to end these slaveries and make sure that every individual has their rights and make the world a safer place for all people.

Why in news?

• Drip irrigation and electric wire fencing will be The HP Sub-Tropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition (HP SHIVA) project will be implemented on 5,000 kanals of land in Kutlehar where farmers have either stopped cultivating due to wild animals or where horticulture is not in practice.
• A sum of Rs 1,000 crores, funded by the Asian Development Bank, will be spent in the first phase of the project, which will begin in 2023 and culminate in 2029.
• The project aims at giving a boost to the plantation of sub-tropical fruits like orange, litchi, pomegranate and guava in lower regions of the state.

Why in news?

• 24th National Conference on e-Governance 2021 recently concluded.

About 24^th National Conference on e-Governance

• The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, in association with the State Government of Telangana organized the 24th Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2021 at Hyderabad, Telangana.
• The theme of this Conference is “India’s Techade: Digital Governance in a Post Pandemic World”.
• At the Valedictory Session, ‘Hyderabad Declaration’ on e-Governance was adopted
• The 24th NCeG represented a platform for constructive exchange of ideas on some of the latest technologies for promoting e-Governance.

Why in news?

• The Tamil Nadu government recently issued an order permitting Jallikattu (traditional bull taming events) across the state during the Pongal festival next week adhering to Covid-19 protocols.

About Jallikattu

• Jallikattu is typically practised in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, which occurs annually in January.

Why in news?

• World Hindi Day is celebrated every year on January 10.

About World Hindi Day

• Vishwa Hindi Divas commemorates the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on January 10, 1975. The conference was inaugurated by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in Nagpur.
• Hindi is considered to be the mother language of India. It is the simplest source of expression of our nation. It is our heritage and the most widely spoken language in the country. The word Hindi originated from the Persian word Hind, meaning the land of the Indus River.
• Apart from India, the language is also spoken in Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji, and Mauritius. Therefore, to promote the Hindi language all around the world, International Hindi Day or World Hindi Day is celebrated every year.

Why in news?

• The Kerala Arts and Crafts Village near Kovalam has won 2021 International Craft Award for the best craft village of the year.

About Kerala Arts & Crafts Village

• The Kerala Arts and Crafts Village is an institution established by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society for the state tourism department.

Why in news?

• Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala announced that Gurugram will get India’s first heli-hub with all aviation facilities.

About the Heli-Hub

• The heli-hub is proposed to be built in Gurugram and would be near the metro facility along with easy connectivity to industrial areas like Noida and Bhiwadi.

Aviation facilities available

• All kinds of aviation facilities for helicopters such as heliport, hangars, maintenance of air taxis and charted helicopters will be available. A draft proposal will be handed to the Aviation Ministry in a week’s time.
• The main purpose of this heli-hub is to make the landing and take-off points for various helicopter services for the national capital.