State PCS

• 09 Nov 2022

Sitakund Dham to be Directly Connected to Ayodhya-Chitrakoot Dham Route

Why in News?

• On November 8, 2022, Santosh Mani Tiwari, executive engineer of the Public Works Department provincial section of Uttar Pradesh, said that Sitakund Ghat located on the banks of Adiganga Gomti in Sultanpur of the state will be directly connected to the Ayodhya-Prayagraj-Chitrakoot Dham road.

Key Points

• Santosh Mani Tiwari said that the Public Works Department has planned to convert two link highways coming inside the city from Dwarkaganj and Tatianagar into four lanes to reduce the traffic jam on the route and strengthen the traffic system. The plan covers a distance of 10 km from Dwarkaganj to Golaghat and also from Tatianagar to Ratanpur Tendhui.
• An amount of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for four lane construction in 10 km distance from Golaghat to Dwarkaganj, in which many bridges and culverts have also been included.
• This link highway four-lane will be constructed to connect Sitakund Dham with Ayodhya-Chitrakoot Dham road. The width of this route will be 50 feet inside the city and 75 feet from the middle of the road outside the city and the occupants will not get compensation within the prescribed limit.
• An amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for a distance of about three km from Tatianagar to Tendui. In this also a bridge and several culverts have been included. On the demand of the government, the Public Works Department, Provincial Division has also prepared Steemit.

Preparations Begin for World-class Ganga Path in Patna

Why in News?

• In a meeting chaired by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on November 7, 2022, it was decided that JP Ganga Path will soon be connected with world-class and recreational facilities for people of all age groups.

Key Points

• Sharing information in this regard on social media, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said that it was decided in the meeting that Ganga Path will be divided into cultural, sports, entertainment, senior citizens and children's areas.
• The Deputy Chief Minister said that once developed, the Ganga Path will look so wonderful that people from all over the world will come to see the road and proposed facilities along the river Ganga. Work on the proposals will begin soon.
• According to sources, the entire stretch of Ganga path is proposed to be developed into different clusters. Water sports facilities like speed boats and jet skiing have been planned under the sports category. Similarly, there are plans to organize regular cultural activities to attract visitors along the river.
• In addition, there will be a vending zone for all vehicles and kiosks. A cycle track is also proposed, while landscaping work will be done to beautify the road.
• 20.5 km on the banks of the Ganges between Digha and Nasriganj. The long JP Ganga Path was envisaged in 2010 as a part of the Nitish Kumar government's Vision 2021 for the development of Patna. Its foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2013.
• The first phase of the Ganga Path between Digha and PMCH was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 24 this year. This phase of the project is 7.4 km long, of which 6.5 km is semi-advanced, with a 13 meter high dam built on the banks of the Ganges.

Jodhpur Digifest-Job Fair 2022

Why in News?

• On November 8, 2022, Principal Secretary, Rajasthan Information Technology and Communication Department, Akhil Arora informed that the State Information Technology and Communication Department will organize 'Digifest-Job Fair-2022' on November 11 and 12 at Government Polytechnic College, Jodhpur to provide great employment opportunities to the youth.

Key Points

• Secretary Akhil Arora said that Digifest is being organized in Jodhpur after Jaipur to showcase technical innovations by the department. More than 20 thousand youth are expected to benefit in Digifest-Job Fair 2022.
• During Digifest, a job fair will also be organized here, in which candidates who have passed 10^th, 12^th and Graduate and Postgraduate examinations will be given employment according to their qualifications.
• E&Y, KPMG, Infosys, G4S, Mahindra Finance, Muthoot Finance, Reliance Jio, Vodafone, Axis, L&T, Spark Minda, Bajaj Motors, Infosys BPO, EsselPropack, DB Corp, Tajhari, AurionPro, Idea Infinity, Bhawan Cybertech, Genus, More than 200 companies like Adani Green, Suzlon, AU Finance, IIFL, Genpact, Club Mahindra, Ques Corp will employ youth in this job fair.
• Before attending the IT Job Fair, candidates can register themselves online on the website of http://itjobfair-rajasthan-gov and arrangements will be made to register themselves at the IT Job Fair site. The youth will also be able to register themselves using the QR facility. Getting registered in the job fair is free.

Chhatarpur and Barwani collectors honoured with 'Chief Minister's Excellence Award'

Why in News?

• On November 7, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan honoured Chhatarpur Collector Sandeep GR and Barwani Collector Shivraj Singh with 'Chief Minister Excellence Award' for their outstanding performance across Madhya Pradesh in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) at a function held in Bhopal.

Key Points

• Chhatarpur Collector Sandeep GR has been awarded the 'Chief Minister's Excellence Award' for outstanding performance in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Rural, while Barwani Collector Shivraj Singh has been awarded the 'Chief Minister's Excellence Award' for outstanding performance in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) Urban.
• In addition to the award, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh each was also given to both the collectors in the program.
• Under the leadership of Chhatarpur Collector Sandeep GR, the district has excelled across the state to provide pucca houses to eligible beneficiaries in rural areas under PMAY.
• Sandeep GR informed that the Panchayat and Rural Development Department had also presented him the State Level Award in PMAY-Rural for outstanding performance during his posting as CEO of District Council in Ujjain.
• The district has also been doing well in various fields since Sandeep GR became the collector of Chhatarpur district. It has been in the top five rankings in CM-helpline disposal for the past 7 months and ranked third in the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) in the country for the past three months.
• Chhatarpur has been included in the 112 most underdeveloped districts of the country in the ADP of NITI Aayog, Government of India.
• Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration and Development Department has been selected for CM's Excellence Awards under central government's PMAY and PM SVANidhi (Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi) schemes, with Barwani district excelling in PMAY-Urban in the state.
• It is noteworthy that 66 houses have been sanctioned by Barwani Collector Shivraj Singh for leprosy patients living in leprosy shelter in Ashgram Trust premises since 1980 and PM Awas has also been provided to 29 families in the slum area Agariya Faliya.

Haryana to Change its Tax System

Why in News?

• On November 8, 2022, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said that preparations are underway to change the tax system in the state and this change in tax will be done from Module-1 to Module-2.

Key Points

• Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said that this change in the tax system over time is very important, so that with the support of every person, India will lead the system of 'One Tax-One Nation' and in the coming years, many new taxpayers will be added to India and the ability of the people to pay tax will also increase.
• He said that Haryana is making changes in the tax system from Module-1 to Module-2, while this change is not easy, but Haryana had played a leading role in implementing the VAT tax system in the year 2003. After that, other states started adopting the VAT tax system.
• The Deputy Chief Minister said that Haryana is a producing state with a population of less than 3 crore and Haryana is at the forefront of per capita receiver goods in small states except Goa and Delhi, and at present the tax is Rs 26 thousand per person.
• He said that in collaboration with the British High Commission, the united kingdom authorities are training more than 200 officers of Haryana regarding the tax system. This is the annual program of the state and it is necessary for the rapid development of the country.

Chhattisgarh Chess Player Kiran Agarwal Appointed Coach of Indian Chess Team

Why in News?

• On November 7, 2022, the All India Chess Federation has appointed renowned international chess player Kiran Agarwal from Chhattisgarh as the coach of the Indian chess team. Earlier in 2004, Kiran Agarwal had achieved the distinction of becoming the coach of the Indian Chess Team.

Key Points

• Kiran Agarwal of the steel city of Bhilai will be a coach in the 16-member Indian team to be included in the Commonwealth Chess Championship to be held in Sri Lanka from November 13 to November 23.
• Apart from Kiran Agarwal, Praveen Thipsay, V. Ravichandran and Prasannajit Dutta have also been appointed as coaches of the Indian chess team.
• Kiran Agarwal is the only woman chess player from the state to be conferred the title of Women FIDE Master by the World Chess Federation. It is known that at the time of chess Olympiad, the torch relay was brought in Chhattisgarh, in which Kiran Agarwal also got the privilege of holding the flashlight.
• Kiran has proved her mettle with her performances while representing India in more than 15 major countries like London, Dubai, Germany, Yugoslavia, Bangladesh, Doha (Qatar).
• In view of his achievements, the then Madhya Pradesh government awarded him the 'Vikram Award' in 1986.
• Chhattisgarh State Chess Association State Secretary Hemant Khute said that Vinod Rathi and Kiran Agarwal of the state are such celebrities of the chess world, who have proved to be very lucky for the country. In 2001, Vinod Rathi went to Athens (Greece) as the coach of the World Junior Under-20 Indian team, where the women's title was won by Koneru Humpy. At the same time, in the year 2004, Kiran Agarwal got a chance to go to Lebanon as the coach of the Indian team, in which the Indian team got a silver medal.

Uttarakhand to Host National Winter Games

Why in News?

• On November 8, 2022, Uttarakhand Sports Minister Rekha Arya, while laying the foundation stone of a multi-purpose sports building near the Sports Stadium in Rudrapur of the state, said that once again Uttarakhand has got the hosting of the National Winter Games, which will be held from February 2 to 5 at Auli in Chamoli, the state.

Key Points

• Sports Minister Rekha Arya said that apart from organizing the National Winter Games in the state, the 'Himalayan Trophy' will also be organized by the International Ski Federation here.
• Teams from various states, including Uttarakhand, will participate in the National Winter Games. The National Skiing Championships 2023 will have a total of four events, in which players from both men's and women's categories will participate. Apart from this, FIS approved giant slalom race for men and women will also be held on February 7-8 under the Himalayan Trophy 2023.
• Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the tourism department has made all the preparations for organizing these games and has also prepared a master plan for Auli, which has been sent for cabinet approval. Apart from this, construction of three and a half km racing slope is also proposed here. With this, Auli will be established as a great skiing destination for skiing professionals.
• Auli also has mountaineering and skiing institutes run by GMVN, where experts groom talent in skiing.
• The Sports Minister said that about 70 percent of the construction work for the National Games to be held in Uttarakhand in the year 2024 has been completed. The remaining construction works will also be completed in six months.
• He informed that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had implemented 'Mukhymantri Udeeyman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana' on National Sports Day, under which about five thousand players are currently benefiting in the entire state. Apart from this, the government has also worked to provide equal amount of money and facilities to the disabled players.