State PCS

• 13 Jan 2022

A Law Will be Made for Smart Prepaid Meters

Why in News

• Recently, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has taken the responsibility of making a new law for the smart prepaid meters being installed in Bihar and to protect the interests of the consumers.

Key Points

• On behalf of the power company, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has been told that for making smart meter regulation in Bihar, the commission itself has to issue the draft of the regulation. After the draft is issued, public opinion will be taken on it. The company will also present its side on its behalf.
• The company has also submitted some more proposals before the commission regarding smart prepaid meters. If the consumer does not recharge the meter despite three messages on the mobile, then there will be a disconnection, that is, power failure. The company has requested the commission to fix a time, after how many days, the connection of the consumers will be temporarily disconnected. After this, if the consumer takes the connection again, then what should be charged from them.
• It is noteworthy that by the year 2025, the state government has started its scheme to install free smart prepaid meters for all electricity consumers. 11 thousand 100 crores will be spent on this item. This is the biggest plan of the power company so far.
• Bihar is the only state in the country which has started installing prepaid meters. So far more than three lakh meters have been installed and other states of the country are following Bihar.

Online Inauguration of Gyandoot 2.0

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, Rajasthan's Higher Education Minister Rajendra Singh Yadav launched the online Gyandoot 2.0, the second edition of Gyandoot, a special assistance program for students' academic support, guidance and preparation for examinations, on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti.

Key Points

• The Higher Education Minister said that while innovating in this program, e-contents are being prepared in Hindi language according to the syllabus of those subjects of all the state universities which are run in the government colleges. For this, an initiative has been taken by the College Education Department to prepare this e-content in total 14 subjects including 8 subjects of Arts, 4 of Science and 2 subjects of Commerce.
• For this, 9 government colleges-Government College Ajmer, Government Dungar College Bikaner, Government College Churu, Government College Banswara, Government College Jodhpur, Government College Pali, Government Arts College Sikar, Government Arts Girls College Kota and Government Girls College Nathdwara were made subject wise nodals.
• Through this special academic support program, good quality e-content will be available online to the students in Hindi language, which can be viewed and read in 24×7 mode from anywhere and anytime. Along with this, online live solutions of the subject problems of the students will also be done in this program every week, so that the students will be able to solve their doubts. The relevance of this Gyandoot 2.0 program has increased, especially in the circumstances of Covid that are arising now.
• The e-content being prepared in all subjects according to the university syllabus will be available on the Gyandoot channel of the College Education Department, which will be available completely free of cost to all the students.
• Government Secretary, Higher and Technical Education Department, Narayan Lal Meena said that students of Hindi language medium face problems in getting good quality e-content in college and university education cadre of Rajasthan. Therefore, through this program, the department is going to make available good quality subject material in Hindi language, so that students can understand and read.

GST Advanced Analytics Portal Launched

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, Chief Tax Commissioner, Commercial Taxes Department, Rajasthan Ravi Jain launched the GST Advanced Analytics Portal.

Key Points

• The Advanced Analytics Portal has been developed by the Business Intelligence Unit of the Commercial Taxes Department, taking the initiative of using technology to make tax assessment easier and prevent tax evasion.
• On this occasion, Additional Commissioner (IT & BIU) Sharad Mehra said that through this portal, tax evasion and other information would be available to the departmental officers quickly. Along with this, this initiative will be helpful in making a special contribution to the revenue growth of the state.

405 Animal Owners Were Honored in the State Level Pashupalak Samman Ceremony

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, 405 progressive cattle breeders of the state were honored in the state level Pashupalak Samman ceremony held virtually in the conference hall of the Government Secretariat of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Minister Lalchand Kataria also inaugurated a new dairy plant at Babai (Khetri) built at a cost of Rs.10 crore 27 lakhs.
• Fifty-five thousand rupees were given to two cattle rearers who were honored with agriculture and animal husbandry at the state level, twenty-five thousand rupees were given to 68 cattle rearers including seven women cattle rearers who were honored at the district level. Apart from this, an amount of ten thousand rupees each has been provided to 335 cattle rearers including 32 women cattle rearers who are honored at Panchayat Samiti level.
• At the state level, Surendra Kumar of Bikaner district and Subhash Chand, a cattle rearer of Sikar district, have been honored by animal husbandry minister Lalchand Kataria in the conference hall of the Government Secretariat by giving him a citation and a prize money of fifty thousand rupees.
• At the district level, the divisional commissioner and collector honored the livestock farmers. An amount of Rs 51.50 lakh was given to 405 cattle rearers of the state in the state level Pashupalak Samman ceremony.
• Government Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dr. Aarushi Malik said that like farmers, animal husbandry should also get respect and respect in their area, for this, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced in the budget to organize an honor ceremony for the cattle rearers.
• Government Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dr. Aarushi Malik said that like farmers, animal husbandry should also get respect and respect in their area, for this, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced in the budget to organize an honor ceremony for the cattle rearers.

Keshav Pandey Honored with 'Dakhal Gaurav Samman-2022'

Why in News

• On January 11, 2022, Keshav Pandey, a senior journalist and social worker of Madhya Pradesh was honored with Dakhal Gaurav Samman-2022 at a function organized at Poultry Bhawan, Bhopal.

Key Points

• The award was presented to Pandey by Narottam Mishra, Minister of Home Affairs, Law and Legislative Affairs, Prisons and Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
• Keshav Pandey was given this award for his outstanding contribution in the field of journalism, health, sports and culture.
• Keshav Pandey is currently the President of Uddhav Sports and Cultural Association, a non-governmental organization working in the field of health, culture and sports.

52 National Youth Award Winners will get Job in Sports Department

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khater announced that 52 National Youth Award winners would be given employment in the Sports Department on the occasion of National Youth Day. He also announced that youth would be linked with lotus clubs, which would be formed in 125 villages with a population of more than 10,000.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister made this announcement at a blood donation camp organized digitally on Swami Vivekananda Jayanti by Bharat Vikas Parishad, Hansi.
• He said that a maximum number of youth would be added to the Lotus Club. Villages with a population of 10,000 will be considered first, then villages with a population of 8,000 and then gradually this club will be established in the less populated villages.
• The primary objective of this club is to connect the youth with sports and other social activities, so as to enhance their potential, intelligence and strength, which will help them to move ahead in life.
• Samarpan Portal has been created for the youth willing to work voluntarily. So far 1300 youths have registered here. Youth will be involved in social work, so that they are sensitive to social service as well as motivated to take part in such activities.
• The Chief Minister said that the State Government was working to provide opportunities to the youth not only in the country but also abroad. Free passports are being made for the youth passing out from college, so that they can go abroad for education and employment.
• The state government is also providing opportunities to the youth to start new startups, so that industries can be promoted and new jobs can be created.

CM Inaugurates Seven New PSA Oxygen Plants

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in collaboration with Path Organization, inaugurated seven new PSA Oxygen Plants online at various hospitals in the state.

Key Points

• Two PSA Oxygen Plants have been installed in Sadar Hospital, Ranchi, one at Mercy Hospital in Jamshedpur and one each at Chakulia (East Singhbhum) and Kuchai (Seraikela-Kharsawan) Community Health Center in collaboration with Path organization.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that in an effort to strengthen the health system in the state, health infrastructure is being strengthened from block to district level, so that people can get better medical benefits from their homes in nearby hospitals or health centers.
• He said that today PSA plants have been installed in every district. RTPCR and state-of-the-art Cobas machines are also available for corona testing.
• There are about 25,000 beds available in hospitals. Now there is adequate availability of oxygen supported beds, ICU and ventilator in the state.

Decision to Purchase on Support Price of Rally Cosa in Chhattisgarh

Why in News

• On January 12, 2022, Managing Director, State Minor Forest Produce Association, Sanjay Shukla informed that important decisions have been taken in the interest of tribal-forest farmers engaged in sericulture and cocoa production in Bastar division. Under this, the purchase of rally cosa will now be done by Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association on support price.

Key Points

• Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Akbar said that with this important decision of the government, now the local residents will get maximum benefit of processing including production of Rally Kosa.
• Giving information in this regard, Managing Director Sanjay Shukla said that by increasing the local processing of rally cosa in the state, the Chief Minister has also directed to increase employment at the local level.
• It is worth mentioning that the state of Chhattisgarh is the leader in cocoa production. Two types of Kosa are produced in the state, which are called Rally and Daba Kosa. At present, Daba Kosa is purchased by the Silk Department, but Rally Kosa is purchased through traders.
• In view of this, Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Association has been directed to purchase rally cosa produced in Chhattisgarh by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on support price. It will directly benefit the residents of Jagdalpur (Bastar), Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Sukma districts including tribal-forest farmers of the state.
• It is noteworthy that the production of Rally Kosa mainly occurs naturally on the Sal tree. Daba Kosa is produced on trees like Arjuna, Saja and Lendia etc. Rally Kosa is superior to Daba Kosa in quantity and quality. Rally Kosa takes place in 2 seasons (Bhado and Chaiti). The quantity and quality of the Bhado crop is more important.
• In the state of Chhattisgarh 8 to 12 crore rally cocoons are produced. Its average value is 30 to 40 crores. Also 9 to 10 crore cocoons are produced in the form of Daba Kosa, whose value is about 25 to 30 crores.
• At present, out of these, the purchase of Daba Kosa is done by the Silk Department, but the Rally Kosa is purchased through traders.