State PCS

• 14 Oct 2021

Appointment of Additional Judges

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, 8 newly appointed Additional Judges were administered oath by Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Rajesh Bindal.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that on August 24, the Collegium had recommended the appointment of 13 advocates and 4 district judges as Additional Judges of the High Court, out of which 8 advocates were appointed as Additional Judges.
• The additional judges appointed include- Justices Chandra Kumar Rai, Krishna Pahal, Sameer Jain, Ashutosh Srivastava, Subhash Vidyarthi, Brijraj Singh, Prakash Mishra and Justice Vikas.
• Article 224 of the Indian Constitution provides that if by reason of any temporary increase in the business of a High Court or by reason of arrears of work therein, it appears to the President that the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, the President may appoint duly qualified persons to be additional Judges of the Court for such period not exceeding two years as he may specify.

NITI Aayog's Delta Ranking

Why in News

In the Delta ranking recently released by NITI Aayog on the basis of the survey for July-August 2021, 7 districts from Uttar Pradesh are included in the top-10.

Key Points

• Among the 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Fatehpur district is ranked at second, Siddharth Nagar at third, Sonbhadra at fourth and Chitrakoot at fifth. Other districts of Uttar Pradesh included in the top-10 include Bahraich, Shravasti and Chandauli.
• The Delta Ranking, released by NITI Aayog, shows the incremental progress in aspirational districts of the country in developmental areas such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure.
• It may be mentioned that the Aspirational District Program launched in 2018 aims to bring about rapid transformation in districts that have made comparative progress in key social sectors. In this 8 districts of Uttar Pradesh have been included.

Pratapgarh District Tops in Covid Vaccination

Why in News

Recently, in the latest report released at the state level, Pratapgarh district has topped in Covid Vaccination. Pratapgarh has left behind all the districts in terms of vaccination in 33 districts.

Key Points

• According to the report, 91.2% people of Pratapgarh district have got the first dose and 48.6% people have got the second dose. On the other hand, Sikar is at second place and Hanumangarh district is at third place.
• It is noteworthy that for the last 10 days, Pratapgarh district was running at the eighth position at the state level, but the district has come first in the five-day vaccination campaign.
• Analyzing the data from the Covid-19 app, it was found that the medical department team administered 687 doses every hour. In the five-day campaign, the teams applied more than 85 thousand doses.

Construction of Heli-Hub in Gurugram

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar informed that the Central Government has approved the construction of a heli-hub in Gurugram and soon the proposal of land for this would be sent by the State Government to the Central Government.

Key Points

• It is worth noting that under the recently announced new helicopter policy, provision has been made to build four heli-hubs in the country at HAL Airport (Bangalore), Juhu (Mumbai, Maharashtra), Guwahati (Assam) and Delhi.
• In addition to the above-mentioned heli-hubs, Gurugram heli-hub will be the fifth heli-hub in the country and the first in the state.
• It is worth mentioning that the Gurugram Heli-Hub will not only have flight refueling facilities but also parking refueling and repair facilities, which will solve the air traffic problem of Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi).

Decision to Start 'Two State Level Institutes'

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar gave approval to start the State Institute of Advanced Studies in Teacher Education in Gurugram and Kurukshetra.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that Haryana is the first state in the country which has taken the initiative to implement this very ambitious recommendation of the new National Education Policy.
• In both these institutes, four-year B.Ed. Students will be given admission in the course from this session itself.
• International standard curriculum of teacher education will be implemented in these institutions. He said that with the start of these institutions, teachers with the latest skills of the 21^st century would be created in the state, which would strengthen the school education of the state.

Waste Paper Award

Why in News

Recently, the team of 'NIFT' Hatia (Jharkhand) has won the Waste Paper Award for their research, at the 12^th Conference on Material Processing and Characterization, 2021 organized by National Institute of Technical Teachers Training, Chandigarh.

Key Points

• The conference was organized in online mode, in which a total of 239 researchers from India and abroad presented their research in the field of Material Science.
• The team of NIFT, Hatia (winner of the Waste Paper Award) included Kumar Satyam, Divya Prakash Srivastava and Saurabh Kumar, under the guidance of Prof Rajkumar Ohdar.
• Researchers from countries like India, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam participated in the conference.
• In this four-day conference, 11 prominent scientists of the country and abroad gave their research related lectures.

Jharkhand's Ramgarh lags behind in NITI Aayog's Delta Ranking

Why in News

In the Delta ranking recently released by NITI Aayog on the basis of the survey for July-August 2021, Latehar and Ramgarh of Jharkhand have been ranked 111^th and 112^th respectively, while Gajapati district of Odisha has got the first position.

Key Points

• Earlier, Latehar was 13^th and Ramgarh 22^nd in the Delta rankings, but they have lagged behind due to slow pace of development plans.
• The Delta Ranking launched by NITI Aayog shows the incremental progress in developmental areas such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure in aspirational districts of the country.
• It is noteworthy that the Aspirational District Program launched in 2018 aims to bring about rapid transformation in these districts, which have made comparative progress in key social sectors.

Amendment in Rajasthan Electricity (Fee) Rules, 1970

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the amendment in the Rajasthan Electricity (Fee) Rules, 1970.

Key Points

• After this decision of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Finance Department has also issued a notification in this regard, which will be effective from October 31.
• It is noteworthy that in the budget for the year 2021-22, the Chief Minister had announced to simplify the important processes in the revenue earning departments and make them online.
• In this sequence, an online facility has been given by simplifying the procedures related to electricity duty. Under this, every person, who generates energy from captive power plants for his own use, consumption or free supply to others, will be able to take advantage of the facility of registration through the departmental website, so that the dealer would not need to be present in the departmental office. Registration certificate will be issued within three days of submission of application.
• Along with this, a facility has also been provided to submit quarterly returns electronically through the website of the department within 30 days from the end of the quarter.

M-Passport App

Why in News

Recently, the Chief Secretary of the State Niranjan Arya launched the M-Passport App under the joint aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the State Home Department. Mapping has been done by connecting all the police stations of the state with the app.

Key Points

• Principal Secretary Home Abhay Kumar told about the M-Passport app that, in this app, most of the questions for police verification are recorded in 'yes' or 'no'.
• This process is more transparent and convenient. With its introduction, the period of police verification for passports will be reduced from two weeks to one week. He said that after 'pilot run' at some places in the state, it is now being implemented in the entire state.
• Prabhat Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs said that the use of the M-Passport app in the police verification process will not only make it easier for Indian citizens to obtain passports, but also this will be useful in getting 'Police Clearance Certificates' for Indians living abroad and people of Indian origin.
• Director General of Police Intelligence Umesh Mishra said that to reduce the time taken in police verification, capacity building of policemen is being done (up to the constable level). This facility will improve the service quality of the police in the passport issuance process.

Connecting Mount Abu, Pushkar, Nathdwara and Pilani in RUIDP

Why in News

Recently, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the proposal sent by the Department of Autonomous Government to connect Mount Abu, Pushkar, Nathdwara and Pilani in Tranche-2 of Phase-4 of RUIDP under Rajasthan Secondary Towns Development Sector Project (RSTDSP).

Key Points

• Various development and beautification works will be done in these four cities linked in RUIDP Phase-4-Trench-2 funded by Asian Development Bank. These development works will strengthen the infrastructure in these areas and tourism will also get a boost.
• Under the proposal, works of drinking water supply, road strengthening and renovation of two ponds of the Nathdwara city city will be done at a cost of Rs 80 crore. Besides, tourism development, urban beautification and other development works will be done in Mount Abu, Pushkar and Pilani cities at a cost of Rs. 25 crores.
• It is worth mentioning that in Phase-4 of RUIDP, works related to sanitation, drainage, drinking water supply and beautification of tourist places are already underway in 14 cities.
• After linking the four new cities, the DPR of the proposed works regarding infrastructure development and beautification of these cities will be prepared by the respective urban bodies.

Indigenous Products of Vindhyavali Launched in Bhopal Haat

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, Smita Bhardwaj, Principal Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Cottage and Village Industries Department, launched ten indigenous products of Vindhyavali in the Charkha Khadi festival organized at Bhopal Haat.

Key Points

• Under the concept of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat - Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh', Khadi Ayurveda, Gwalior's Handmade Mitti Charcoal Soap, Handmade Kewra Soap, Handmade Multani Mitti Soap, Handmade SandalWood Soap, Stevia powder from Adyati Herbs & Food Pvt. Ltd. Jabalpur, Roop Sanjuri of Azad Kutir Industries Institute, Bhopal, Immune Prash, Diabetes Powder and Khadi Ayurveda, Gwalior's Castor Oil, Gulab Jal and Body Oil have been launched.
• The Principal Secretary said that Vindhyavali is a banner under the Madhya Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board, which provides assistance and guidance to small and cottage enterprises in the manufacture of indigenous products, at present their units across the state are being operated under Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh concept.
• He informed that new products, Agarbatti, Stevia Powder, Indigo Powder, Roop Manjari, Satritha, Immune Prash, Diabetes Powder, Handmade Soap were launched under Vindhyavali brand and sale of 98 new Ladies Designer Garments in Kabira range of readymade garments has also been started.
• It is worth mentioning that with the objective of providing continuous employment to weavers and other artisans working in the field of Khadi and Village Industries under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board has organized Charkha Khadi Utsav at Bhopal Haat Complex in Bhopal from October 9-20, 2021 in which about 110 Khadi Village Industries and Handicraft units from 12 states are participating.

‘Gati Shakti National Master Plan’

Why in News

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan virtually attended the launch of 'Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan' organized at Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan' for multi-modal connectivity.
• On this occasion, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh will prepare with full force for this great campaign of development. He decided to immediately link Madhya Pradesh with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the state level 'Conference on Multi Infrastructure Connectivity' at Minto Hall.
• Gati Shakti is a digital platform which will bring together 16 ministries including rail and road for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. Basically Gati Shakti will have 200 types of databases, in which the physical facilities, district administration offices, rail, road and gas lines, health and police along with facilities like water bodies, reserve parks and forests will be mapped by GIS system.
• Through this various central ministries and state governments will be able to benefit from better logistics schemes and connectivity.

Rajasthan Social Security Special Persons Pension Scheme

Why in News

On October 13, 2021, an order was issued by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department of Rajasthan to give the benefits of pension scheme to all the special persons with 21 types of disabilities under the 'Rajasthan Social Security Special Persons Pension Scheme' in the state.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that this step has been taken by amending the Social Security Special Persons Pension Rules, 2013, considering all 21 types of disability categories of the state as special persons in the state.
• Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Dr. Samit Sharma informed that earlier, the benefit of social security pension scheme was given only to the special persons having dwarfism of 3 feet 6 inches in height, including 7 types of categories of special persons mentioned under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.
• He said that due to the effect of Right of Persons with Disabilities Act-2016, considering 21 types of disability category as special persons in the state, all the differently abled persons with 21 types of disabilities would be able to get the benefits of pension scheme.