Current Affairs - State

Joseph Francis Pereira, a Pakistani Christian, became the first Goan to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019. Pereira moved to Pakistan for studies before Goa's liberation lived in Karachi, and returned to India in 2013 after retirement. His achievement marks a significant milestone for the state of Goa, highlighting the impact of the CAA on individuals seeking Indian citizenship.

Rajasthan has introduced a reward scheme under the Ayushman Jeevan Raksha Yojana to encourage quick action in transporting road accident victims to hospitals. The initiative offers Rs 10,000 and a citation to individuals who promptly deliver accident victims to medical facilities and provide necessary personal details. Funded by the Dedicated Road Safety Fund, this program aims to improve emergency response times and reduce fatalities from road accidents, demonstrating the state's proactive approach to enhancing road safety and victim support.

The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, approved the implementation of a revised National Pension Scheme (NPS) for state government employees, modelled after the Centre's Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). This revised NPS, set to be implemented on March 1, 2024, will cover 13.45 lakh state government employees. It includes provisions for a pension equal to 50% of the last salary plus dearness allowance and 60% of the family pension, as recommended by a high-level committee headed by retired IAS officer Suresh Kumar.

The Subhadra scheme, launched by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, aims to provide financial assistance to one crore women in the state. The scheme promises ₹50,000 to women aged 21 to 60 over five years, with a total budget allocation of ₹55,825 crore. The funds will be disbursed in annual instalments of ₹10,000, divided into two payments, and will be directly credited to beneficiaries' Aadhaar-enabled bank accounts. This initiative is a significant step towards empowering women in Odisha.

The Prime Minister recognized the achievements of 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis in Maharashtra, awarding them certificates for their annual earnings of over ₹1 lakh. This initiative aims to empower women and promote financial independence. Additionally, the Prime Minister launched a Community Investment Fund and bank loans to further support Self-Help Group (SHG) members, demonstrating the government's commitment to women's economic empowerment.