State PCS

• 11 Oct 2021

Justice Rajesh Bindal

Why in News

• On October 9, 2021 a notification for the appointment of Justice Rajesh Bindal as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court was issued by the Government of India.

Key Points

• Justice Bindal was the acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court before being transferred to the Allahabad High Court.
• Recently, Justice Bindal was appointed as the chairman of the committee set up by the Supreme Court to prepare a modern electronic register for the use of district courts.
• It is noteworthy that judges in the higher judiciary in India are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the collegium.

Prime Minister of Denmark Visit to India

Why in News

• On October 10, 2021, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, visited the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort during her three-day visit to India.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that the Prime Minister of Denmark is the first head of government of a country to visit India after the then US President Donald Trump's visit to India in January 2020.
• Earlier in 2020, India-Denmark had announced the 'Green Strategic Partnership', which aims to promote mutual cooperation on global issues related to climate change along with economic cooperation.
• The Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal (Arjuman Bano), is the best example of Mughal architecture. It is decorated using Pietra-Dura style.
• In 1983, the Taj Mahal in Agra was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Also it is among the Seven Wonders of the World.

Sambhar Lake Management Agency

Why in News

• Recently, the state government has approved the formation of a dedicated 'Sambhar Lake Management Agency' for efficient management of Sambhar Lake.

Key Points

• In order to strengthen and focus on the management of Sambhar Lake, the Chief Minister allowed the formation of 'Sambhar Lake Management Agency' for the protection, conservation and all-round development of Sambhar Lake.
• It is noteworthy that Sambhar Lake, spread in Jaipur, Ajmer and Nagaur districts, is an internationally renowned Ramsar site. The lake is the second largest brackish water lake in India and the largest in the state and the largest inland salt production center in Asia.
• This management agency will be formed under the chairmanship of the State Forest and Environment Minister and the Chief Secretary. The Management Agency will work for the protection, conservation and development of the Sambhar Lake area.
• The agency includes Mines, Groundwater and Engineering Department, Forest and Environment, Revenue, Energy Department, Autonomous Government Department, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department, Industry Department, Finance Department, Panchayati Raj Department, Water Resources Department, Agriculture Department, Tourism Department, Medical And in-charge of the Health Department and Urban Development Department will be the Secretary.
• Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Wildlife Warden, Director of RAJUVAS, Salt Commissioner Director, Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, Jaipur Ajmer Nagaur District Collector will be the Member Secretary.
• Similarly, Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, State Biodiversity Board and Chief Manager of Sambhar Salt Limited will be the members.
• Presently there are two Ramsar sites marked as Sambhar and Bharatpur in Rajasthan. This is also a big achievement for Rajasthan because after Chilka, E.K.W. and Loktak this will be the fourth such lake management agency in the country.

Country's First Plastic Free Sanitary Napkin

Why in News

• Recently, Dr. Yogendra Kumar Saxena, scientist and environmental scientist of Central Pollution Control Board, Bhopal has prepared the country's first single-use plastic free sanitary napkin.

Key Points

• This napkin is made with the help of biodegradable starch sheet, nonwoven fabric, wood pulp sheet, sap sheet and back side release paper tape. Virag Bohare of Raag Innovation Pad Factory Mainpura District Bhind helped him in this innovation.
• After use, this sanitary napkin will have to be destroyed in the incinerator like bio medical waste. Throwing it in the open, burying or burning it will not be as harmful to the environment as existing napkins are. Many other sanitary napkins use 90% single-use plastic.
• It is noteworthy that 70% of urban and 48% of rural women in the country use sanitary napkins. Of this, only 24 percent of napkins go to the incinerator for scientific execution, in remaining 76 percent only 28 percent reach the general waste, 33 percent are buried in the ground and 15% are burnt in the open. .
• It takes 500-800 years for a napkin to decompose. Some people in the country have made biodegradable sanitary napkins, but even 20-25% plastic is being used in them.
• It is noteworthy that Dr. Saxena has already done innovations like making manure by immersing cow dung lamps and POP idols in ammonium bicarbonate.

Mundrupi Late Medieval Statue Found on Tosham Hill

Why in News

• Recently, a stone statue of the late medieval era has been found on the hill located in Tosham in Bhiwani district of Haryana, which appears to be of a male.

Key Points

• Earlier a stone idol of Lord Vamana was found on Tosham hill.
• According to historical evidence, this hill was inhabited by Pandavas during their exile and Prithviraj Chauhan used to run his court here in a palace known as Baradari.
• It is noteworthy that Tosham hill is about 800 feet high. Many historical evidences exist on this hill including Ashok Chakra, Panchtirthi Kund, Gyarsiya Kund.

Chhattisgarh Ranks Fourth in Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

Why in News

• According to the data provided on the website of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Chhattisgarh ranks fourth in the country, while Tamil Nadu ranks first in the implementation of this scheme.

Key Points

• According to the data (till October 9, 2021) 2314 Gram Panchayats have been selected under the scheme and out of the planned 82,918 projects of rural development, 53,352 projects and activities have been completed, while work on 6,416 village development projects is in progress.
• On the other hand, work has not started on 23,110 projects and activities of rural development under the scheme, which is a little more than one-fourth (28 percent) of the total works. Out of 2,314 gram panchayats selected for the scheme 1,717 gram panchayats have uploaded the details of the village development project on the portal.
• According to the data Tamil Nadu (94.3 percent), Uttar Pradesh (89.8 percent), Gujarat (84.2 percent), Chhattisgarh (79.67 percent), Karnataka (76.68 percent), Uttarakhand (76.66 percent), Kerala (69.78 percent), Madhya Pradesh (68.4 percent) In Manipur (67.57 percent), Mizoram (66.32 percent), Himachal Pradesh (65.25 percent) and Haryana (61.16 percent), have made a good implementation of Adarsh Gram Yojana works.
• At the same time, 55.06 percent in Rajasthan, 52.63 percent in Jharkhand, 50.38 percent in Telangana, 45.46 percent in Andhra Pradesh, 43.7 percent in Odisha, 42.11 percent in Maharashtra, 38.68 percent in Bihar, 36.97 percent village development work completed in Punjab.
• It is worth mentioning that the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana for the development of villages was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day in 2014. The scheme was launched on October 11, 2014. Under this, the MPs had to select an 'Adarsh Village' in their area and develop it.
• Under the plan, MPs were to adopt three villages in a phased manner between 2014 and 2019 and five between 2019 and 2024.
• Under the scheme, it has been said to develop villages mainly by promoting four sections - individual development, human development, economic development and social development. Under this, works like cleanliness, education, health, nutrition, skill development, basic facilities, social justice and good governance etc. have been included.
• No separate allocation is made for 'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana' and MPs have to develop it from the funds of MPLAD.

Rashtriya Pragati Puraskar

Why in News

• Recently, Dehradun resident Ashu Satvika Goyal was presented the Rashtriya Pragati Puraskar at a function held in New Delhi.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that the Rashtriya Pragati Puraskar has been presented by the All India Business Development Association to Ashu Satvika Goyal for her work as a social worker and cultural ambassador of India.
• Ashu Satvika Goyal is a social worker, artistic trainer and actress. She is also the co-founder of Rang Himalaya Utsav organized in Dehradun and a member of Global Youth Network for Creating a New Civilization.
• Ashu Satvika has participated in many international conferences and meetings on global issues and is an Indian classical dancer as well as a painter.