State PCS

• 11 May 2022

Bhatkhande Music College got the status of cultural university

Why In News?

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet meeting on May 10, 2022 approved the proposal to grant the status of cultural university to Bhatkhande Music College and appoint grade-I government officials to the medal winners of international standard in sports.

Key Point

• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna informed that an ordinance was promulgated on January 6, 2022 for setting up of The Bhatkhande State Culture University by adopting the Uttar Pradesh State Universities Act, 1973.
• The Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University funded by the Department of Culture is currently established for teaching in various disciplines of classical music.
• In the second decision, the State Cabinet also approved the proposal to announce the 'Uttar Pradesh International Medal Winners Direct Recruitment Rules, 2022' for appointment of medal winners in international sports directly to 24 gazetted posts.
• These 24 posts belong to nine different departments like rural development, secondary education, basic education, home, panchayati raj, youth welfare, transport, forest and revenue.
• All these posts are within the purview of the Public Service Commission and the appointments will be made after the concurrence of the Commission. For this, the Department of Personnel has made necessary amendments to the 'Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (Delimitation of Functions) Regulations, 1954' Act.
• The posts where the appointments will be made include BDO, BSA, DPRO, Assistant Sports Officer, Naib Tehsildar and Deputy SP.
• Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Girish Chandra Yadav said medalists in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup or World Championships as well as Paralympic Games will be eligible for these posts. Also, the person should be a native of Uttar Pradesh.

Senior advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra to be the new Advocate General of the state

Why In News?

On May 10, 2022, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a proposal to appoint senior Supreme Court advocate Ajay Mishra as the new Advocate General of the state.

Key Point

• It may be recalled that justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court took suo motu cognizance and on May 7, had given the state government time to appoint a new advocate general till May 16.
• Article 165 of the Constitution provides for the appointment of a Solicitor General, under which he has to not only act as a legal adviser to the government, but also discharge the CrPC, contempt law, as well as other legal obligations.
• These obligations can not be transferred to any additional advocate general or others. In such a situation, the post of Advocate General can not be kept vacant as per the Constitution.
• Advocate General Raghvendra Singh had submitted his resignation to the government a month ago.
• Ajay Mishra is son of former Justice Shrirang Mishra and elder brother of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra. He is currently serving as additional advocate general of the Uttar Pradesh government in the Supreme Court.

Bihar becomes no. 1 state in the country in mushroom production

Why In News?

According to the latest data released by the Recently Released National Horticulture Board, Bihar has become the largest mushroom producing state in the country by producing more than 28,000 tonnes of mushrooms in the year 2021-22.

Key Point

• Bihar has achieved this feat by overtaking Odisha. Earlier, Odisha was ranked first in mushroom production.
• According to data released by the National Horticulture Board, in 2021-22, Bihar produced more than 28,000 tonnes of mushrooms, which is 10.82 per cent of the total mushrooms produced in the country.
• While Bihar had produced 23,000 tonnes of mushrooms last year, the state was ranked 13th in terms of mushroom production three years ago.
• According to horticulture board data, Maharashtra is second only to Bihar in mushroom production, which accounts for 9.89 per cent of the total production. Odisha is at the third position with 9.66 per cent share.

Important decisions taken in Rajasthan Cabinet meeting

Why In News?

On May 10, 2022, a meeting of the State Cabinet and the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took a number of important decisions such as holding of a uniform eligibility test for competitive examinations with uniform eligibility including approval for necessary amendments in the rules for implementation of the old pension scheme.

Key Point

• The meeting has approved the proposal for amendments to the Rajasthan Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1996, the Rajasthan Civil Services (Contributory Pension) Rules, 2005, various revised Pay Scales Rules and the Rajasthan Civil Services (Medical Care) Rules, 2013 for implementation of the Budget Announcement for implementation of old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all Government employees appointed on and after 1st January, 2004 .
• This will enable government employees appointed on and after 1st January, 2004 to be eligible for pensionary benefits on their retirement. At the same time, the Government of Rajasthan will also be able to get cashless medical facility under the Health Scheme (RGHS).
• Those who have exited their service before 31^st March, 2022 will also be payable pensionary benefits from April, 2022 as per the said rules.
• With a view to streamline, time-bound and integrate the recruitment process in the state, a Common Eligibility Test (CTET) will now be conducted in place of various competitive examinations (e.g., Village Development Officers, Patwaris, Ministerial Staff etc.) with the same eligibility criteria . For this, the Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Services (Uniform Eligibility Test) Rules, 2022 will be framed.
• As per the announcement of Budget 2022-23, it has been decided to allot 25 bighas of land free of cost in the Indira Gandhi Canal Project area to the Paralympic medal winners resident of Rajasthan.
• A decision has been taken on allotment of valuable land to Adani Renewable Energy Park Rajasthan Limited, a joint venture set up by an agreement between Rajasthan Akshay Urja Nigam Limited and Adani Group, a state government undertaking, for setting up of 2000 MW solar park for 6,000 hectares of state-owned land in Jaisalmer district.
• In addition, a decision has been taken on the proposal for conditional allotment of 290.62 hectares of government land in Tehsil Fatehgarh of Jaisalmer to Eden Renewable Paci Private Limited. This decision will enable setting up of a 150 MW solar power project.

Madhya Pradesh Startup Conclave, 2022

Why In News?

On May 10, 2022, P. Narhari, MSME Secretary, Madhya Pradesh informed that the Madhya Pradesh Startup Conclave, 2022 will be held on May 13 at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore.

Key Point

• In this three-session conclave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the session by virtually joining the final session and launching the Startup Policy and Portal of Madhya Pradesh.
• At the same time, a collection of success stories of select startups of Madhya Pradesh will be released by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• It will consist of three components, including the sectoral session, startup expo and the launch of the startup policy in the virtual presence of the prime minister.
• It will have the following activities in its various sessions:
• The speed mentoring session will see and interact with leading leaders from startups, educational institutions and startup space in collaboration with MPTE.
• In the funding session, startups and potential entrepreneurs will communicate on different ways of funding in tier-I and tier-II cities.
• In the pitching session, startups will discuss opportunities for collaboration with investors and present their ideas for funding.
• In the ecosystem support session of startups, participants will learn how to increase their brand value and how to promote the MP startup ecosystem.

Vehicle Scrapping Facility Centre inaugurated at Fatehpur village in Nuh district

Why In News?

On May 10, 2022, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility Centre at Fatehpur village in Nuh district.

Key Point

• Speaking on the occasion, he said that the vehicle scrapping policy brought by the Central Government will reduce pollution, while also increasing the production capacity in the automobile sector with lower cost.
• The biggest benefit of this policy will be that copper, steel, aluminium, rubber and plastic will be easily available.
• It may be recalled that the Vehicle Scrapping Policy was announced by the Central Government in the year 2021, the salient points of which are as follows:
• Commercial vehicles older than 15 years and private vehicles older than 20 years will have to pass a fitness test before re-registration.
• The testing of old vehicles will be done at the automatic fitness centre, here the fitness test of vehicles will be done on international standards.
• The State Governments are advised to provide road tax exemption upto 25% for private vehicles and up to 15% for commercial vehicles to encourage owners of old vehicles to remove old and unfit vehicles.
• Those showing 'scrapping certificate' by vehicle manufacturers will be given a discount of 5% on taking the new car, along with the registration fee of the new vehicle.
• The use of such vehicles will be discouraged by increasing the re-registration fee of vehicles 15 years and older.

Johar Agri-Mart

Why In News?

According to a press release issued by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Government of Jharkhand on May 10, 2022, more than 35,000 farmers are getting technical facilities from 25 Johar Agri Marts across the state.

Key Point

• The initiative to provide under one roof to the farmers of Jharkhand through The Johar Project under Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society has been taken up by Johar Agri Mart to provide improved farming facilities such as availability of high quality fertilizers, seeds, pesticides etc.
• Through Johar Agri Mart, apart from the farmers belonging to the producer groups, the common farmers are also being provided with all kinds of materials and services related to farming at reasonable prices.
• At present, 25 Johar Agri Marts are being operated in a total of 11 districts of the state. Johar Agri Mart is proving to be a boon as a one stop centre for the progress of farmers.

New tariffs for solar power projects released

Why In News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued a new tariff for solar power projects after two years, refusing to extend the period for setting up of a new project of Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (Ureda) at old rates.

Key Point

• Ureda had received 1472 applications under the Mukhyamantri Solar Swarozgar Yojana, out of which 781 projects were issued letter of award by Ureda. Due to the Covid pandemic and then the assembly elections, the establishment of these projects had slowed down.
• The rule was that only those projects which will be set up by March 31, 2022, will be able to sell power to UPCL at the rate of Rs 4.49 per unit.
• Under the scheme, 70% of the project cost will be taken as a loan from the State and District Co-operative Banks at the rate of 8% interest and the remaining amount will be borne by the concerned beneficiary as margin money.
• Under the scheme, the grant will be up to 30% in the border districts of the State and up to 25% in hilly districts and 15% in other districts.
• Under this scheme, eligible persons (permanent residents of the State) will be able to set up solar power plants by taking their private land or land on lease.
• Under this, 10,000 unemployed persons of the state will be provided employment.