State PCS

• 17 Mar 2023

8 thousand 108 Villages of 16 Districts Have Been Declared Deficient

Why In News?

• On March 16, 2023, the state government issued a notification declaring 8,108 villages in 16 districts as poverty-stricken. This notification will remain in force till March 31, 2023.

Key points

• Based on Kharif crop 2022 (Samvat 2079) regular and special Girdawari report received from district collectors, a notification has been issued for the villages of these districts to provide relief to the farmers in case of crop failure due to floods.
• According to the notification issued by the Disaster Management, Relief and Civil Defence Department, relief has been provided to 1597 villages in Jhalawar district, 1231 in Baran, 957 in Bharatpur, 766 in Kota, 717 in Banswara and 716 in Tonk district.
• Similarly, relief has been provided to 625 villages of Pratapgarh district, 517 of Bundi, 347 of Nagaur, 274 of Udaipur, 227 of Ajmer, 58 of Dhaulpur, 47 of Jodhpur, 14 of Sawai Madhopur, 13 of Karauli and 02 of Sriganganagar.

Formation of a Committee to Give the Status of Official Language to Rajasthani Language

Why In News?

• On March 16, 2023, Education Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. B.D. Kalla said in the assembly that the Minister of State for Languages has approved the formation of a committee in connection with declaring Rajasthani language as the second official language of Rajasthan.

Key points

• The education minister said that this committee will study the model of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and submit a report regarding the recognition of Rajasthani language on the lines there.
• It is known that the education minister was replying to the attention motion moved by Member Rajendra Rathore during Zero Hour in the Assembly regarding making Rajasthani language the official language of the state and adding it as a third language in the Board of Secondary Education.
• He said that at present Rajasthani language is included as a literary subject in the curriculum under the Board of Secondary Education. He said that after approval from the competent level, it would be possible to include it as a third language.
• Dr. Kalla said that on August 25, 2003, a resolution was unanimously passed by all the members of the State Legislative Assembly regarding recognition of Rajasthani language and its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• The Central Government has been urged from time to time to include Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. In this regard, requests have been made to the Central Government by the Chief Ministers in the years 2009, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2023. He told that at present the matter is under consideration at the level of the Government of India.
• The education minister said that it has come to the notice of the state government that different languages have been made official languages in different states. At present, the Rajasthan Official Languages Act-1956 is in force in the state. The matter is being examined for amendment in the said Act to include Rajasthani language in the official language.
• He said that Mahapatra Committee has also considered Rajasthani language eligible to be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Dr. Kalla said that in this regard, the members of the party and the opposition should unite and request the Prime Minister.

Reconstitution of the Distribution Reforms Committee Headed by The Chief Secretary

Why In News?

• On March 16, 2023, the state government has reconstituted the 'Distribution Reforms Committee' under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, as per the instructions of the Union Ministry of Power, related to the result-based distribution sector scheme.

Key points

• Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Panchayat and Rural, Water-Resources, Finance, Principal Secretary, Energy, Urban Development and Housing, Revenue and Environment Member and Managing Director MP Power Management Company Member and Convener and Managing Director MP East/Central/West Kshetra Vidyut Vitran Company Limited has been made a permanent invitee.
• The committee will recommend the physical and financial progress of the scheme at the state level, review the quality and recommendation to the State Council of Ministers and the detailed project report for approval of the Monitoring Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Power.

Interactive Digital e-flip Book and Flash Card Game Box Launched

Why In News?

• On March 15, 2023, Haryana's School Education Minister Kanwar Pal released the interactive digital e-flip book and flash card game box prepared by National Innovative Teacher Awardee Dr. Vijay Kumar Chawla to develop math skills.

Key points

• School Education Minister Kanwarpal said that the digital e-flip book and flash card game kit would prove to be a milestone in developing basic numeracy skills.
• Kanwar Pal said that in today's modern digital age, gamification technology is one of the best techniques to develop the basic understanding and proficiency of students in numeracy and related concepts under 'Skilled India Mission'.
• He informed that 32 games have been included in the digital interactive e-flip book of digital and offline mathematics games to develop basic understanding and skills related to numerical knowledge among the students.
• Students will be able to self-assess various competencies such as basic literacy and numeracy objectives - addition, subtraction, division and multiplication - through digital and offline games.
• Education Minister informed that the digital and offline games in the interactive digital e-flip book and flash card box have been developed keeping in mind the needs of differently abled students. All these games will prove to be beneficial for students with attention disorders.
• To play these games, students have to click on the link of the given game or scan the QR code. Students can easily acquire basic understanding and skills of numeracy and related concepts by playing these games.
• He informed that very soon interactive digital e-flip book and flash card kit of digital and offline games will be made available to teachers and students as free open educational resource through the website of SCERT, Gurugram.

Seven Women Footballers from Jharkhand Included in Indian Team for SAIF Under-17 Women's Football Championship

Why In News?

• On March 16, 2023, The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a 20-member Indian squad for the SAFF Under-17 Women's Football Championship to be held from March 18 to 29, which includes seven footballers from Jharkhand.

Key points

• Out of seven footballers from Jharkhand in the Indian team, four footballers are trainees of JSSPS Ranchi while three footballers are from Residential Girls Football Training Centre, Gumla.
• The seven players from Jharkhand who have been selected in the team are Vikas Bada (Defender), Nishima Kumari (Defender), Babita Kumari (Forward), Anisha Oraon (Goalkeeper), Shaulina Dang (Midfielder), Shivani Toppo (Forward) and Lalitha Boypai (Midfielder).
• The seven players from Jharkhand who have been selected in the team are Vikas Bada (Defender), Nishima Kumari (Defender, JSSPS), Babita Kumari (Forward, JSSPS), Anisha Oraon (Goalkeeper, JSSPS), Shaulina Dang (Midfielder), Shivani Toppo (Forward) and Lalita Boypai (Midfielder, JSSPS).
• It is known that a trial was organized in Indore on February 21-22 for team selection, in which 35 players from across the country took part.

Chamoli's Manshi Negi Won Gold Medal in Walk Race (20KM)

Why In News? 

• Recently Manshi Negi of Majothi village of Chamoli district won the gold medal in 20 km walk race in the 82nd All India Inter University Athletics Competition held in Tamil Nadu. 

Key points  

• Manshi Negi, popularly known as the Golden Girl, completed the race in one hour and 41 minutes, dusting off her rivals and winning the gold medal. 
• It is known that Manshi Negi won the gold medal in the under-20 women's 10,000-meter walk race in the 37th National Junior Athletics Championship held in Guwahati from November 11 to 15 last year with a new national meet record of 47:30:94 minutes. 
• Manshi's coach Anoop Bisht said that Manshi is a player of Maharana Pratap Sports College Excellent Wing. Manshi is a resident of Majothi village of Chamoli border district. Manshi's father Lakhpat Singh Negi died in 2016.