Current Context : Uttar Pradesh to establish four special investment regions under new NIRMAN Bill.

• The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved the Uttar Pradesh Nodal Investment Region for Manufacturing (Construction) Area Bill (NIRMAN)-2024.
• Objective : to attract significant investment and propel the state towards a one trillion-dollar economy.
• The Bill proposes the creation of four Special Investment Regions (SIRs) across the state’s geographical areas, leveraging a 20,000-acre land bank.
• SIRs are envisioned as key investment hubs where cluster development can thrive.
• These regions are designed to facilitate ease of doing business, spur economic growth, and generate employment opportunities.
• Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned an MoU with India Trade Promotion Organisation and MSME to build convention centers in Lucknow and Varanasi.
• This initiative is already in place in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, positioning Uttar Pradesh as the fourth state to adopt such a model.

Current Context : Governor of Arunachal Pradesh KT Parnaik released a book titled Kargil War.

• Authored by former Rajputana Rifles 2nd battalion (2 RAJ RIF) commanding officer late Col M B Ravindranath, a Vir Chakra awardee.
• Book gives insight into the actions and operations of the battalion from May to July, 1999, during Operation Vijay.

Celebrated every year across the world on July 12.

• Aim : to make people aware of the harmful impact of plastic on our environment and promote paper bag usage.
• Theme : “Sustainable Choices for a Greener Future”.
• Paper bags are the perfect eco-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Celebrated on July 12.

• Aim : to celebrate the life and legacy of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani advocate for girls’ education and the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize.
• The day marked one year since the Taliban attacked her for opposing their restrictions on female education in Pakistan.
• The UN first celebrated International Malala Day on July 12, 2013 and officially announced July 12 as International Malala Day in

Celebrated on 18 July every year.

• Celebrated in honour of Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
• Theme : It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality.
• The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010.

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh is accelerating its transition towards becoming a green state by 2026 through a series of ambitious solar energy initiatives.

Chief Minister of Himachal underscored this vision during the inauguration of the 5 MW Bhanjal solar power project in Una district.

ABOUT BHANJAL SOLAR POWER PROJECT

• Commissioned by P. Power Corporation Limited.
• Generate 54 Million Units of Power Annually.
• Revenue Generation : 3.82 crore
• The project will also help reduce carbon emissions by 396 tonnes per year.

RECENT INITIATIVES FOR SOLAR ENERGY EXPANSION.

• 32 MW Pekhubela solar power project, completed in a record time of eight months at a cost of Rs. 220 crore, underscores the state’s rapid progress in harnessing solar power.

Current Context : Government of Himachal will  launch a new scheme ‘State Award to Teachers and Head of Schools’.

• Aim : to recognize and honour the exceptional services rendered by the teachers in the state.
• Under the scheme, 24 teachers would be awarded in two categories: general areas and tribal/hard areas.
• 15 awards would be designated for teachers in the general areas and 9 awards would be for teachers in the tribal/hard areas.
• This initiative is intended to foster an interest in teaching as a career, motivate high-quality teaching and enhance the reputation of educators within the community. It would also encourage the adoption of best teaching and learning practices in schools.”
• Eligible candidates include teachers posted in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Current Context : Justice Rajiv Shakdher is appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

• He will replace Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao.
• Justice Shakdher is presently serving in the Delhi high court. Justice Shakdher was appointed an additional judge of the Delhi high court on April 11, 2008, and made a permanent judge in 2011.

Current Context : Prime Minister inaugurates Indian Newspaper Society’s Towers in Mumbai.

ABOUT INS

• Establishment : Its origin can be traced back to INS is established as Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (IENS) on February 27, 1939.
• Arthur Moore of the Statesman was the first president of INS.
• Objective: To act as a central organization of the Press of India and of any other country in Asia, which desires to associate itself with the Society.
• Role: Works as an independent body authenticating circulation figures of newspapers and periodicals in India.
• Protecting and promoting the freedom of press in India.

Current Context : Union Home Minister inaugurated PM Colleges of Excellence in Indore Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• MP is the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

ABOUT PM COLLEGES OF EXCELLENCE

• These colleges are upgraded according to the parameters fixed in line with National Education Policy.
• Flexibility in subject selection based on one’s interests in multiple disciplines without barriers of streams, this approach is referred as No compartmental education.
• Focus on diverse subjects like Biotechnology, Computer Science, Arts and Data Analytics etc.