Current Affairs - State

Maharashtra's State Cabinet approved the Prisons and Correctional Services Bill to be enacted as an Ordinance. This new Bill aims to modernize the state's prison operations, replacing the outdated Prisons Act of 1894. The current system suffers from significant overcrowding, housing 40,428 prisoners in facilities designed for only 27,110. The new legislation is based on the Union's Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, and aims to address these issues comprehensively.

On August 4, 2024, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that Haryana would become the first state in India to implement a comprehensive MSP policy, covering all crops. This policy expansion, adding nine additional crops to the previously covered 14, aims to provide a robust safety net for farmers, encourage crop diversification, and protect against market price fluctuations, marking a significant shift in agricultural policy ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Coal India Limited (CIL) and GAIL (India) Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) plant in Raniganj, West Bengal. This plant aims to produce 80,000 Nm3 per hour of SNG by utilizing 1.9 million tonnes of coal annually. This initiative aligns with the National Coal Gasification Mission and supports the Atmanirbhar mission by reducing dependency on natural gas imports.

The Government of India has completed and operationalized four major projects under the Namami Gange Mission 2.0 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024-25 in the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar. These projects, costing Rs. 920 crores, aim to rejuvenate the River Ganga by adding sewage treatment capacity, improving sewer networks, and intercepting drains. Key projects in Munger (Bihar) and Mirzapur (UP) focus on improving water quality and reducing pollution, thus enhancing the ecological health of the Ganga and its tributaries.

The Mukhyamantri Maiyaan Samman Yojana is a welfare initiative announced by the government of Jharkhand and led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. This scheme, set to be launched on August 16, 2024, aims to empower women by providing financial assistance, enhancing educational access, improving health and nutritional standards, and fostering economic self-reliance among women in Jharkhand. The scheme is an evolution of a previous program and highlights the government's focus on women's welfare in the state.