State PCS

• 07 Sep 2021

State's First Private Agricultural Market

Why in News

• Recently Divya Bhoomi Agricrop Producer Company has proposed to set up a Mandi in Nagla Vorai village on Agra-Gwalior Highway.
• After its completion it will be the first Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) market in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• The private market will be set up on the Agra-Gwalior highway in an area of over 4,000 square meters.
• This market will be operated by a group of 600 farmers, which will improve the agribusiness in Agra and its surrounding districts.
• This market will provide an opportunity to the farmers of 40 villages spread over a 30 KM area of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh along the Agra-Gwalior Highway to buy and sell their produce.
• According to official sources, there is a provision in the Agricultural Produce Market Manual that any person or FPO can buy and sell the produce of the regional farmers by setting up a market.

'Sarabhai Honorary Award, 2021'

Why in News

• The National Council of Teacher Scientist (NCTS) honored Anand Kumar, mathematician and the founder of Super-30, with the 'Sarabhai Teacher Scientist National Honorary Award, 2021'.
  
  • He has been given this award for making it easier to teach mathematics and making poor children successful in the entrance examinations of IITs.

Key Points

• In a virtual program held on the occasion of Teachers' Day Anand Kumar of Bihar was also given lifetime membership of this organization.
• Anand Kumar has been providing coaching to underprivileged children for nearly two decades for JEE Advanced, an entrance exam for admission to the Indian Institute of Technology.
• NCTS, headquartered in Delhi, was established by the Raman Science and Technology Foundation of Gujarat to develop scientific temper among the teachers.

'Rajeev-2021 Digital Quizathon'

Why in News

• Recently 'Rajeev-2021 Digital Quizathon' was held in the state.
  
  • A record 14,000 participants participated in the final stage of this Quizathon.
  • More than 37,000 youths participated in all the three phases.

Key Points

• Digital Quizathon was started on 20^th August under the joint aegis of College Education Department and Information Technology and Communication Department of Rajasthan.
  
  • Quizathon was started with the aim of acquainting the younger generation with the contribution of former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi and making them aware about the developments in the field of Information Technology.
• Under this, online examinations were organized in three phases for the students studying in all the colleges, universities, polytechnic and engineering colleges of the state and private sector.
  
  • In the first phase 12,846 students participated in the online test based on information technology.
  • In the second phase 10,273 students appeared in the examination held on September 3, 2021 on the topic 'Good Governance through Information Technology Innovations in Local Administration'.
  • Similarly, 14,102 students participated in the final stage competition held on September 6, 2021 on the subject of General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
• The result of these competitions will be declared on September 10, 2021. It is proposed to distribute the prizes to the winners on September 15, 2021.
• In each of the three competitions, the best 25 participants will be given one Tablet each as first prize and next 30 contestants will be given second prize. In this way a total of 75 first prizes and 90 second prizes will be given in all the three competitions.

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Why in News

• On September 7, 2021, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board directed all the regional officers of the state to organize a public awareness program on 'International Day of Clean Air for Blue Sky'.

Key Points

• In view of the serious adverse effects of air pollution on the environment and human health, it was decided by the United Nations Environment Program to organize 'International Day of Clean Air for Blue Sky' on 7^th September.
  
  • A resolution for the same was passed on 19^th December, 2019.
• For the first time it was held in 2020 with the theme 'Clean Air for All'. For 2021 its theme is 'Healthy Air, for Healthy Planet'.
• Instructions have been given to organize webinars with the participation of maximum people to make the general public aware of the increasing air pollution and climate change in the cities.
• Along with this, instructions have also been given to make people familiar with the implementation of the action plan for 'Non-Attainment City' with a view to improve the ambient air quality.
• It is noteworthy that the 'National Clean Air Program' is being run by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to improve the urban air quality.
  
  • In this, out of 132 cities of the country, 6 cities of Madhya Pradesh – Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar and Dewas are included.
    
    • An action plan is being prepared and implemented to improve the air quality of these cities. Along with this, the work of measurement of ambient air quality is also being done in major cities of the state.

State's First Passenger 'Pink Bus'

Why in News

• On September 6, 2021, Madhya Pradesh's Tourism, Culture and Spiritual Minister Usha Thakur along with Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pratibha Pal flagged off the state's first pink bus in Indore.
  
  • This bus is operated by Atal Indore City Transport Services Limited (AICTSL).

Key Points

• This service has been started by AICTSL keeping in view the empowerment, self-reliance and safety of women.
• Two female drivers 'Ritu Narwale' and 'Archana Katare' and female Conductors 'Lakshmi Aswara' and 'Pushpa Chauhan' are working in this bus.
• Both the women drivers have been given one month special training to drive the Pink bus.
• These pink buses are equipped with innovative technologies like CCTV cameras, on board units, and sensor doors. About two thousand women will be able to travel in this bus every day.
• The state's first passenger 'Pink Bus' operated by a woman driver is a sign of women's self-reliance and empowerment.

International Haryana Education Society

Why in News

• On September 6, 2021, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the online training program of 'International Haryana Education Society' at Haryana Bhawan.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Smt. Rekha Dhankhar, who was associated with the program from Britain, got the first registration of the society done by the Chief Minister.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government would fulfill the dream of the youth of Haryana to study abroad and get a job. For this 'Foreign Cooperation Department' has been established and Haryana is the first state in the country to do so.
  
  • With this, he said that the state government is contemplating the establishment of the Haryana International Education Department in the state.
• The Chief Minister said that the government is taking initiative to give passports to students with B.A., M.A. degrees in the state and so far the passports of 3,000 youths have been made.

Supplementary Budget Presented in the Monsoon Session

Why in News

• On September 6, 2021, on the second day of the monsoon session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, the government presented the first supplementary budget for the new financial year 2021-22.

Key Points

• State Finance Minister Dr. Rameshwar Oraon presented a budget of Rs. 4684.93 crore on the floor of the House.
• In this budget, the maximum amount of Rs 1786.05 crore has been given to the Energy Department. At the same time, Rs 1000.30 crore has been allocated to the Mines Department, Rs. 337.32 crore to the Disaster Management, Rs. 324.75 crore to the Agriculture Department and Rs. 279.30 crore to the Health Department.

Teeja-Pora/Pola Tihar

Why in News

• On September 6, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, while giving a big gift to the women of the group on the occasion of Teeja-Pora Tihar organized at his residence, announced to waive the timeless loans of all women groups under the loan scheme of Mahila Kosh, so that they can start new economic activities by taking loans again.

Key Points

• Along with this, the Chief Minister announced a five-fold increase in the budget of loans given to women groups from the Mahila Kosh every year, and announced to increase the budget of the Women's Fund from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 10 crore.
• This announcement of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is being seen as a further step towards justice in the state. With this, the debt burden of 12 crore 77 lakh rupees will be removed from the heads of lakhs of womens belonging to self-help groups.
• With the waiver of timeless loans outstanding on women groups, about one lakh women belonging to the groups will be able to conduct their economic activities afresh and they will be able to easily get loans for this.
• With women groups now eligible for a loan of Rs 2 lakh, they will be able to further expand the activities of self-employment and self-reliance. This will increase their income and make them financially empowered.
• With women groups now eligible for a loan of Rs 2 lakh, they will be able to further expand the activities of self-employment and self-reliance. This will increase their income and make them financially empowered.

Poshan Rath

Why in News

• On September 6, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel flagged off the Poshan Rath run by the Department of Women and Child Development on the occasion of Teeja Pora Tihar for a tour of different districts.

Key Points

• This Poshan Rath will travel to different villages of different districts and give the message of nutrition. Films focusing on nutrition will be screened in this.
• Along with this, Chief Minister Baghel and Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhediya signed the nutrition pledge and expressed their commitment for the creation of malnutrition free Chhattisgarh.
• Through this Poshan Rath, audio and video messages related to nutrition and health will be broadcast in Raipur district.
• In other districts also, through Poshan Rath, publicity is being done at different places, due to which useful information is given after video demonstration by the facilitator among the masses.
• The video is mainly based on Malnutrition, Nutritious Diet, Anemia, Breastfeeding, Hygiene, Care of Pregnant Woman, Overeating, in which health nutrition information can be reached to maximum number of people in an interesting way using audio-visual media. 's effort.

Hindi Medium School of Excellence in Every District

Why in News

• Recently, Chhattisgarh's Principal Secretary (Education) Dr. Alok Shukla directed all the district collectors to identify one Hindi medium school in each district and submit a proposal to upgrade it as a school of excellence.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that on September 5, 2021, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the opening of one Hindi Medium School of Excellence in each district on the lines of Swami Atmanand Government English Medium School.
• This announcement was made after the inauguration of Swami Atmanand RD Tiwari Government English Medium School at Amapara, Raipur on the occasion of Teachers' Day.
• The Principal Secretary (Education) directed the District Collectors that the external appearance of the heritage schools should not be changed and modifications should be done only for advanced laboratories and libraries.