Current Affairs Question - 23 August 2019

Explanation :

• On 20^th August, 2019, Punjab government launched its flagship universal health insurance scheme SarbatSehatBimaYojana, benefitting nearly 46 lakh families.
• It is aimed at ensuring the best possible treatment to the beneficiaries free of cost.
• Under the scheme, E-cards will be provide to beneficiaries, who will be able avail annual cashless treatment up to Five lakh per family per year, including pre-existing diseases,
• The scheme has also been extended to around 4,500 journalists accredited to the state or holding yellow cards.
• Equipped with specially designed 1396 treatment packages, the scheme will be implemented through more than 450 empanelled hospitals, including 200 government hospitals.

Significance

• With this scheme, covering 76 percent ofits population, Punjab has become the first state in the country to offer medical insurance cover to the maximum number of its people.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 21^st August, 2019, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy released Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL).
• Karnataka has emerged as the best state for setting up of roof top solar projects, followed by Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh.
• Jammu and Kashmir has been ranked last in the index.
• The SARAL system currently captures five aspects: 
  • robustness of policy framework
  • implementation environment
  • investment climate
  • consumer experience
  • business ecosystem in the states

Significance

• It would incentivise rooftop solar by creating healthy competition among the states and will encourage all states to adopt the best practices being followed by top ranking states.
• It will help to meet the National target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, of which 40 GW is expected to come from grid connected solar rooftops.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 20^thAugust, 2019, Maharashtra’s Tribal Development Department in association with the Pace Educational Trust launched an academic programme for young tribal students aspiring to be doctors and engineers.
• Inspired by the work of Patna’s Anand Kumar and his Super 30, which prepares smart but underprivileged students to sit for IIT entrance exams, the Super 50 programme will mentor 50 most meritorious tribal students from the State and prepare them for engineering and medical exams.
• It will be a two-year residential programme, where the students will be provided hostel and mess facilities, a tablet, NCERT books and career counselling.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• Manipur government recently launched the School Fagadaba (Make education better) scheme to ensure better infrastructure, quality education and overall improvement of government schools to make them model schools.
• In the first phase of the scheme, one school from each of the 60 Assembly constituencies in the state has been selected.
• The state government will install biometric attendance machines in government schools to ensure the presence of teachers at their posting places.
• The overall objective is to improve the government schools conditions and to increase the enrollment of students.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online