National Ground Water Management Improvement Scheme

• The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti announced on July 20, 2023, that 21 states and union territories in India have effectively put into action the Ground Water Act, which incorporates a vital element for rainwater harvesting to encourage sustainable water management.
• The ministry has developed a prototype bill to aid all states and union territories in formulating appropriate groundwater regulations.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti has verified that 21 states and union territories in India have adopted groundwater laws following the guidelines laid out in the Model Bill.
• The states and UTs included at present are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and the union territories of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

DPIIT and Govt. of Gujarat Jointly Launch ‘One District One Product’ 

• Collaboration has been initiated as the One District One Product (ODOP) program joins hands with the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to launch its first-ever venture with the Government of Gujarat in New Delhi.
• The primary objective of this joint effort is to foster the growth of indigenous crafts and support local artisans in the state.

India’s First Private Hill Station

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has cleared the sale of Lavasa, India’s first private hill station to DE Darwin’s resolution plan, which included a payout of Rs.1,814 crore.
• This sum consists of Rs.929 crore paid to the lenders and Rs.438 crore used to provide 837 accepted homeowners with fully built homes.

Rajasthan Assembly Passes Bills on Minimum Income

• The 'Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023' was successfully passed by the Rajasthan Assembly with the objective of ensuring a guaranteed income to all adults in the state.
• The bill pledges to provide employment guarantee for 125 days annually and a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month to all households, encompassing both urban and rural areas. Additionally, the pension will receive an automatic annual increment of 15 percent.

Kerala Gets India’s 1st Construction Innovation Hub

• The nation's inaugural Construction Innovation Hub (CIH) has been established in Kerala.
• Its objective is to promote affordable and sustainable building solutions, encouraging cooperation, fostering innovation, and facilitating knowledge exchange among stakeholders.
• The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will play a crucial role in managing the overall program of CIH.
• This responsibility includes identifying and enlisting emerging companies and offering them technical mentorship and connections related to housing.

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Inaugurates GST Bhawan at Agartala

• Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the ‘GST Bhawan’, a project for CGST, CX and Customs Office, Agartala, Guwahati Zone under CBIC, at Agartala, Tripura.
• The GST Bhawan is an Office complex in the Centre of Agartala City. The project is located at one of the most preferred locations in Agartala.
• Reference Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1941568