Election Commission raises expenditure limit for candidates in Parliamentary and Assembly polls

• The Election Commission has increased the existing election expenditure limit for candidates in Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies, due to the rise in inflation.
• The new limits will be applicable in all upcoming elections in the country.
• The previous major revision in the election expenditure limit was done in 2014. It was further increased by 10% in 2020

Parliamentary constituencies poll expenditure ceiling:

• Bigger states (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka)- Increased to Rs 95 lakh from previous limit of Rs 70 lakh.
• Smaller states (Goa, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and UTs) – Increased to 75 lakh from previous Rs 54 lakh.
• UT of Jammu and Kashmir has been raised to 95 lakhs.

Assembly constituencies poll expenditure limits:

• Bigger states: Increased to Rs 40 lakh from Rs 28 lakhs
• Smaller states: Increased to Rs 28 lakhs from Rs 20 lakhs

Cabinet approves MoU with Nepal for construction of bridge over Mahakali river at Dharchula in Uttarakhand

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for the construction of a bridge over Mahakali River, which forms the border between India and Nepal.
• The bridge will connect the twin town of Dharchula in Uttarakhand with Dharchula in the territory of Nepal.
• The construction of the bridge will be completed within three years.
• It will strengthen the relationship and further improve the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurates second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in Kolkata, at Newtown, near Rajarhat, on January 07, 2022.
• The new campus has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 530 crore.
• Out of this, Rs 400 crores have been provided by the Union government and remaining by West Bengal government, in the ratio of 75:25.
• The 460-bedded second campus of CNCI has been built under the Union Ministry of Health, in line with the prime minister’s vision to expand and upgrade the health facilities in all parts of the country.
• The existing CNCI unit is located at Hazra More in Kolkata. It was inaugurated on January 02, 1950.
• CNCI is an autonomous body under the Centre, and the only government-run cancer hospital in Bengal so far.

Uttar Pradesh bags Best State award in 3rd National Water Awards for 2020

• The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared the winners of the third National Water Awards for the year 2020, on January 07, 2022.
• Uttar Pradesh has been adjudged as the Best State in water conservation efforts in the National Water Awards 2020.
• It is followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu respectively.
• Overall 57 awards have been announced in 11 categories.
• These include: Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Media (Print & Electronic), Best School, Best Institution/RWA/Religious organization for Campus usage, Best Industry, Best NGO, Best Water User Association, and Best Industry for CSR Activity. 
• The award comes with a citation, trophy and cash prize.
• The National Water Award was launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2018 to recognise and motivate individuals and organizations doing exemplary work in the field of water resources management.

Puducherry to host 25th National Youth Festival in 2022

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has chosen Puducherry as the host for the National Youth Festival 2022.
• The 25th National Youth Festival has been organised from January 12 to 16, 2022.
• The festival is being organised as part of the Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav to mark the 75th year of India’s Independence.
• Around 1000 youths from across the country are expected to participate in the festival.
• It NYF 2022 will showcase the rich cultural heritage and the unsung heroes of India’s freedom movement who gave their life to it and many other such topics

International

Antigua and Barbuda joins as 102nd member of ISA

• Antigua and Barbuda has officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member country on January 05, 2022.
• With this, the Caribbean nation has become the 102nd country to join the India-led global energy initiative, ISA.
• The framework agreement was formally signed by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa.

Agreement

UN World Food Programme tie up with The Akshaya Patra Foundation for PM-POSHAN Scheme

• The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India has partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation to enhance the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) scheme.
• The agreement in this regard was signed on January 03, 2022 between WFP India country director Bishow Parajuli  and Chanchalapthi Dasa, Vice Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation in New Delhi.
• PM Poshan Scheme was launched on September 29, 2021 as a new meal scheme for government and government-aided schools for five years (from 2021-22 to 2025-26) with the financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion.
• The existing ‘Mid Day Meal’ scheme has been included in this programme.
• The WFP and Akshaya Patra will form a steering committee with representatives from both organisations to discuss various aspects of the tie-up.
• Finances to implement the programmes will be provided by both organisations.
• Bengaluru-based The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a non-profit organisation that operates a school lunch programme.