State PCS

• 06 Sep 2021

Cleanliness Drive – 'Swachhta Mahabhiyan'

Why in News

• On September 5, 2021, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a week-long cleanliness Drive 'Swachhta Mahabhiyan' in a program organized at Rampus School, Shahpur in Gorakhpur district.

Key Points

• This cleanliness campaign has been launched for the prevention of communicable diseases like- encephalitis, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, cholera, diarrhea etc.
• During the campaign, works like cleaning, drainage, sanitization, fogging, spraying will be done. Along with this, chlorine tablets will also be distributed to take care of the purity of drinking water.
• In eastern Uttar Pradesh from 1977-78 to 2017 a large number of children lost their lives every year due to encephalitis, but due to the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' launched in 2014, the encephalitis death rate is at the lowest level and this disease is almost ended.
• The Chief Minister also honored the sanitation workers doing excellent work by giving them gifts and certificates. He flagged off the team of sanitation workers involved in the cleanliness drive.

‘Miliye Sarkar se’: A unique Virtual Series

Why in News

• On September 5, 2021, Rajasthan Foundation started a unique virtual series called 'Miliye Sarkar Se'.
• Through this initiative migrants from different states of the country and abroad will be able to interact directly with the ministers and other representatives of the Rajasthan state government.

Key Points

• In the first episode of this series of conversations with the representatives of the state government, State Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal gave detailed information about the development works and future plans of the state government to the migrant Rajasthanis through a webinar.
• In this first episode of 'Meet Sarkar Se' program, many expatriates from the country and abroad shared their views on various aspects of medical, health, education, road and economic and social development in Rajasthan in front of Minister Dhariwal.
• The 'Meet Sarkar Se' program will not only provide an opportunity to the migrants to know closely about the development work being done in their state, but also it will outline the contribution of migrants in the investment opportunities being explored by the government in Rajasthan.
• Underlining the role of migrant Rajasthanis in dealing with the corona epidemic, the Foundation commissioner said that all kinds of support was provided to the state government by the migrants for setting up oxygen plants in the state, sending liquid oxygen, through Rajasthan Foundation.

'Sustain by Cartist' Exhibition

Why in News

• On September 5, 2021, the Art and Culture Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. B.D. Kalla inaugurated the 'Sustain by Cartist' art exhibition at Alankar Gallery of Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK). The exhibition will be held till September 12.

Key Points

• This exhibition is a unique display of art and decor items made using junk. Cartist in association with Jawahar Kala Kendra has started this initiative to promote upcycling of auto parts using used car parts and automotive waste and curate designer furniture.
• This unique initiative named 'Sustain by Cartist' will be extended to 33 districts of Rajasthan for a month. Workshops and exhibitions will be organized in all districts in collaboration with local artisans.
• In this unique initiative by Cartist, the old vehicles, which have become junk and which are thrown in the junk, have been fully utilized. Every part of the vehicle like tyre, grille, hood, seat etc. has been used to make furniture and decoration items in this exhibition.
• These scrap parts have been used to create artworks, so that all new artists can be inspired to use many such materials to give it an art form.

Shakti Patel Receives National Teachers’ Award

Why in News

• On the occasion of Teacher's Day (September 5), President Ram Nath Kovind honored teacher Shakti Patel of Mandla district with the National Teachers’ Award, 2021.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that 44 teachers of the country were honored with the National Teachers’ Award in the virtual program organized on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
• 32-year-old Shakti Patel is a secondary teacher of Hindi subject at Government High School of Mand village in Mandla district.
• He incorporated technology in the field of education and distributed free notes to children by QR code. Thousands of students across the country are benefiting from the entertaining learning material available on their website and YouTube channel. At the same time, he gave importance to teaching the events of Hindi subject lessons by connecting them with real life events.
• It may be mentioned that the National Teachers’ Awards were instituted in the year 1958 to recognize the excellence and commitment of talented teachers working in primary and secondary schools.
• Teacher's Day was celebrated for the first time in India on September 5, 1962, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the first Vice President of India- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Similarly, 27 teachers from different districts of the state were honored for their outstanding contribution in the field of education in the online program of State Level Teacher Award Ceremony, 2021 held in Madhya Pradesh on September 5, 2021.

Two New Committees in the Assembly

Why in News

• Recently, the Committee on Rules of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly has recommended the formation of two new committees to the House.

Key Points

• The Rules Committee headed by Speaker Girish Gautam has recommended the formation of these committees for better work on the basis of experience and abundance of work in the Legislative Assembly.
• The first committee has been named 'Etiquette and Respect Maintenance Committee' of the members and the second committee has been named 'Backward Class Welfare Committee'.
• According to the committee on rules, it has been recommended to set up a 'Etiquette and respect maintenance committee' to monitor the matters related to the disrespectful behavior by the government officials as well as legislators.
• After examining the complaint of disrespectful behavior made by the MLA to the Speaker, the Speaker will hand it over to the Etiquette Committee for investigation. In case of a serious complaint, the Speaker can also refer it to the Committee of Privileges.
• The above new committee will be in addition to the already existing member facilitation committee to examine the related matters.
• The 'Backward Class Welfare Committee' constituted to look after the affairs of backward classes will be created by separating the already existing SC/ST and OBC Welfare Committee.

Approval for the Construction of Roads

Why in News

• Recently, V.D. Ram, Member of Parliament from Palam, said that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the construction of nine roads and eight logistic support bridges under its road connectivity project for Left Wing-Extremist affected areas of Palamu and Garhwa districts.

Key Points

• Of the nine roads, two are in Garhwa district and seven are in Palamu, while all eight logistic support bridges are across the Sathi, Sapi, Satbahini and Pathalbaja rivers in Palamu district.
• It is worth mentioning that these roads and logistic support bridges are sanctioned by the MHA only after the concerned District Superintendent of Police (SP) recommends it on its strategic value in the fight against extremism.

Software for Estimation of Coal Resources

Why in News

• Recently Coal India Limited (CIL) has launched a software named 'Spectral Enhancement' (SPE).
  
  • It will help to identify thin coal layers beneath the earth's crust and improve the estimation of coal resources using seismic surveys during the coal exploration process.

Key Points

• The CIL's Research and Development (R&D) arm Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) in collaboration with Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) has developed this first of its kind software.
• This 'Made in India' software will also help in saving the time and cost of coal exploration, thereby giving a boost to the mission of 'Self-reliant India' in coal production.
• It is noteworthy that CIL accounts for 80 per cent of India's total coal production.

National Teachers’ Award to Manoj Kumar Singh

Why in News

• On the occasion of Teachers' Day (September 5, 2021) President Ram Nath Kovind honored Manoj Kumar Singh, a teacher of Hindustan Mitra Mandal School, Golmuri, with the National Teachers’ Award, 2021 through a virtual medium.

Key Points

• Manoj Kumar Singh is the only recipient of this prestigious award from Jharkhand. He was given a medal, a certificate and Rs 50,000 in the award.
• Manoj Kumar Singh, originally from Gaya in Bihar, had prepared a mathematics book for JCERT for classes 1 to 8th and used to teach mathematics to children even after the school was closed during Covid.
• He is known for teaching complex mathematical concepts through innovative, practical and art-based pedagogy, mostly done outside the classroom. He also conducts online learning through his YouTube channel 'Creative Learning with Manoj'.
• He is also part of the e-content developer team of the Jharkhand Council of Education Research and Training (JCERT), which has created online content for maths during the pandemic through the DigiSchool app.
• It is noteworthy that instituted in 1958, the 'National Teachers’ Award' is given by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on Teachers' Day every year to give public recognition to meritorious teachers of primary, secondary and higher secondary schools.
• The award carries a silver medal, certificate and Rs 50,000.

Memorial Award and State Teachers’ Award

Why in News

• On September 5, 2021, 54 teachers of the state were honored with State Teachers’ Award 2020 and 4 teachers were honored with Memorial Award in the name of great litterateurs of the state in the State Level Teacher Award Ceremony organized on the occasion of Teacher's Day.

Key Points

• Each of the teachers selected for the State Teacher Award was given a citation, a shawl and a Samman Nidhi of Rs 21 thousand.
• 4 Memorial Awards are-
  
  • Dr. Padumalal Punnalal Bakshi Memorial Award – Keshav Ram Verma (Head Reader, Pancham Diwan Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Bhatapara- Balodabazar)
  • Dr. Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Memorial Award – Chovaram Verma (Lecturer, Government Higher Secondary School Kesda, Simga, Balodabazar)
  • Dr. Mukutdhar Pandey Memorial Award – Vijay Kumar Sharma, (Head Reader, Government Higher Primary School, Kasekera Bagbahra, Mahasamund)
  • Dr. Baldev Prasad Mishra Memorial Award – Kamal Kishore Tamrakar (Teacher, Government Pre-Secondary School, Usrijor, Gariaband)
• Apart from this, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel felicitated 20 teachers of the state who had innovated to keep children engaged in education during the Corona period in 'Shiksha Madai' organized at RD Tiwari Government English Medium School, Amapara in the capital.

Special Cover Issued on GI Tagged Products

Why in News

• On September 5, 2021, Governor Anusuiya Uikey released a special cover issued by the Indian Postal Department on three GI tagged products of Chhattisgarh (Bastar's Iron Craft, Wooden Craft and Jeeraphool Rice).

Key Points

• On the lines of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' of the Government of India, the Department of Posts has issued a special cover on 3 GI tagged heritage of the state for wide publicity through the vast network of Department of Posts/Philately Bureaus and counters spread across the country.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that Iron Craft from Bastar and Wooden Craft have an integral place in the tribal culture and history of the state and these crafts have also become the identity of Chhattisgarh's culture in the country and abroad.
• Jeeraphool rice is the first and till date only agricultural product of the state, which has been given GI tag by the Government of India for its special quality and identity.

Eight New Government Colleges

Why in News

• On September 4, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the establishment of eight new government colleges in different parts of the state.
  
  • Also said that seven degree colleges will be upgraded to PG colleges.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister made these announcements on the occasion of inauguration of Science Block at Government Post Graduate (PG) College, Raipur Maldevta.
• These new colleges will be opened in Dehradun city, Haridwar city (Bhupatwala), Haldwani city, Gadarpur Udham Singh Nagar, Danyan in Almora, Kaljikhal and Khirsu in Pauri and Deval in Chamoli.
• Government colleges of Munsiyari (Pithoragarh), Gairsain (Chamoli), Kapkot (Bageshwar), Someshwar, Halduchaud (Nainital), Laksar (Haridwar) and Thalisain (Pauri) will be upgraded to PG colleges.
• Apart from this, he also announced the construction of a video conferencing hall and modern lecture hall in all the government colleges of the state.