Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 30 August 2024 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Union cabinet on Wednesday approved 12 new industrial smart cities in different states with an outlay of Rs 28,602 crore to boost domestic manufacturing, said union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while briefing the media on the cabinet decisions.
Out of the 12 industrial cities, two are coming up in Andhra Pradesh and one in Bihar.
The government in the Budget had announced the development of 'plug and play' industrial parks in or near 100 cities in partnership with states and the private sector to boost manufacturing.
Details of the industrial smart cities:

• Aligned with vision of Viksit Bharat
• Grand necklace of Industrial Smart Cities on the backbone of Golden Quadrilateral
• 12 projects worth Rs. 28,602 crore to transform India's industrial landscape
• Employment potential 10 Lakh direct and up to 30 Lakh indirect jobs
• Investment potential Rs. 1.5 lakh crore
• Built on PM GatiShakti principles
• 'Plug-n-play' and 'walk-to-work' concepts with planned urbanization
• Robust, sustainable infrastructure to drive investments and spur balanced regional development
• Will cement India's role in Global Value Chains with ready-to-allot land for investors

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh earlier told PTI that eight such cities are already under different stages of implementation.
Trunk infrastructure has been created in four cities - Dholera (Gujarat), Auric (Maharashtra), Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh) and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and allotment of land plots is underway for the industry.
Similarly, in the other four, the government's special purpose vehicle is in the process of constructing the basic infrastructure like road connectivity, water and power supply.
With eight already under the development stage and the announcement of 12 new in the Budget, the total count of these cities in the country will reach 20.
The move will help increase the share of manufacturing in the country's GDP and create jobs.
[Excerpt from Economic Times "Union Cabinet Approves 12 New Industrial Smart Cities" Dated 30/08/24]

Q1: What recent initiative did the Union Cabinet approve involving a budget of ₹28,602 crore?
(a) Construction of new highways
(b) Expansion of existing airports
(c) Development of 12 new industrial smart cities
(d) Launch of a nationwide healthcare program

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Q2: What is the total expected private sector investment for the new industrial smart cities project?
(a) ₹50,000 crore
(b) ₹75,000 crore
(c) ₹1.5 lakh crore
(d) ₹2 lakh crore

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Q3: How many direct and indirect jobs are projected to be created by the new industrial smart cities initiative?
(a) 5 lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs
(b) 8 lakh direct and 25 lakh indirect jobs
(c) 10 lakh direct and 30 lakh indirect jobs
(d) 12 lakh direct and 20 lakh indirect jobs

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Q4: What is the primary infrastructure model being used for developing the new industrial smart cities?
(a) Green Corridor Model
(b) Golden Quadrilateral Model
(c) High-Speed Rail Model
(d) Coastal Highway Model

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Q5: Which concept in the industrial smart cities design aims to reduce commuting and improve work-life balance?
(a) ‘Plug and Play’ Model
(b) ‘Walk-to-Work’ Concept
(c) ‘Smart Growth’ Model
(d) ‘Green Infrastructure’ Principle

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