State PCS

• 23 Oct 2021

Proposal for Amendment in Agriculture Export Policy, 2019 Approved

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, under the chairmanship of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal to amend the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Export Policy, 2019.

Key Points

• Various amendments have been made in the policy to make the export of agricultural products easy and convenient in the interest of the farmers.
• The Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Export Policy, 2019 has been promulgated with the objective of increasing the export of agricultural products from Uttar Pradesh to the farmers to get better price for their products.
• In the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Export Policy, 2019, a provision has been made for export clusters to have at least 50 hectares of agricultural land within the development block, eliminating the interconnectivity of 20-20 hectares.

Son Chiriya Aajeevika Utsav, 2021 Launched

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh launched the state-level 'Son Chiriya Aajeevika Utsav, 2021' at Mahila Haat-Bazaar in Shivaji Nagar, Bhopal. This Aajeevika Utsav will continue till October 31, 2021.

Key Points

• Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh said that the products manufactured by self-help groups formed under Deen Dayal Antyodaya National Urban Livelihood Mission will now be known as Son Chiriya brand. The products of self-help groups will get a new identity in the state and country under the name of Son Chiriya brand.
• In this state level festival, products made by women of self-help groups of 24 urban bodies of the state, such as decorative items, zardozi items, organic products, jute products, jewellery, gift items, incense sticks, pickles, big-papad, spices And toys etc. are being displayed and sold.
• The Urban Development and Housing Minister said that Haat-Bazaars would be set up in all the cities to provide space for the sale of products manufactured by Self-Help Groups.
• At present there are 35 thousand self-help groups in the urban bodies of Madhya Pradesh, in which 3 lakh 50 thousand women are involved.

Distribution Reforms Committee

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh constituted the Distribution Reforms Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains for the result based distribution area plan related to reforms by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Key Points

• Managing Director M.P. Power Management Company Limited has been made the convener of the committee. Additional Chief Secretary Environment, Principal Secretary Finance, Forest, Energy, Revenue, Panchayat and Urban Development and Housing have been made members in the committee.
• This committee will review the progress of the scheme at the state level. In addition, it will recommend action plans for the approval of the Council of Ministers.
• Will submit recommendations on the detailed project report for approval to the Monitoring Committee constituted by the Ministry of Power, Government of India. The committee will also review the physical and financial progress of the projects as well as the quality.

Center of Excellence in Logistics

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, two 'Memorandum of Agreement' have been signed between Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore and the Logistics Center Council, an autonomous organization of the Government of India, for the establishment of the first Center of Excellence in Logistics in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• This center will be established in Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. The Logistics Sector Skill Council has a plan to provide one center in each state.
• Higher Education Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that new employment opportunities would be available to the youth of the state with the introduction of logistics courses in Madhya Pradesh.
• Being geographically located in the center of Madhya Pradesh, this effort will also be successful in connecting industries from an industrial point of view. He said that this center is going to be opened for the first time in the country.

Best State Agriculture Leadership Award, 2021

Why in News

• Recently, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presented the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister J.P. Dalal was given the Best State Agriculture Leadership Award, 2021.

Key Points

• Haryana has been awarded the Best State Agriculture Leadership Award, 2021 in the category of states, as a result of the innovations being done in the agriculture sector for the last seven years and implementing new methods.
• Progressive farmer of the state Kanwal Singh Chouhan was also rewarded in this program.
• On this occasion J.P. Dalal said that the steps taken by Haryana for innovation include proper use of water, diversification of crops grown in less water and various schemes to increase the income of the farmer.

Haryana Sanskrit Academy Announces Awards for the year 2019 and 2020

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, Haryana Sanskrit Academy announced the awards for the years 2019 and 2020.

Key Points

• Academy director Dr. Dinesh Shastri told that for the year 2019, Prof. Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra (Himachal Pradesh) and Prof. Dr. Man Singh (Uttarakhand) has been selected for the Sanskrit Sahityalankar Samman.
• Haryana Sanskrit Gaurav Samman for the year 2019 by Prof. Sudhikant Bhardwaj (Delhi) and Captain Rambhagat (Mahendragarh) have been selected for the year 2020.
• Dr. Satyendra Prakash (Gurugram) has been selected for Maharishi Valmiki Samman for the year 2019 and Prof. Virendra Kumar Alankar (Gohana) for the year 2020.
• Dr. Sudhir Kumar (Panchkula) has been selected for Maharishi Vishwamitra Samman for the year 2019, Dr. Devi Singh (Zirakpur) has been selected for the year 2020.
• Dr. Sudhir Kumar Arya (Delhi) has been selected for the Mahakavi Banabhatta Samman for the year 2019 and Sushil Kumar Shastri (Hisar) for the year 2020.
• Acharya Haridutt (Rohtak) has been selected for 'Guru Virjanand Acharya Samman' for the year 2019.
• Mrs. Kusumalata (Kurukshetra) has been selected for Vidya Martand Pt. Sitaram Shastri Acharya Samman for the year 2019 and Acharya Seema Rani (Kurukshetra) for the year 2020.
• Dr. Murlidhar Shastri (Bhiwani) for the year 2019 and Dr. Ashok Kumar Mishra (Ambala) for the year 2020 have been selected for the Vishisht Sanskrit Seva Samman.
• Acharya Himanshudhar (Bhiwani) for the year 2019 and Acharya Devendra Kumar (Sonipat) for the year 2020 has been selected for Pt. Yudhishthira Mimansak Acharya Samman.
• Bhagwati Arya, Kanya Gurukul Jasat (Gurugram) for the year 2019 and Ratiram Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya (Jind) have been selected for the year 2020 for the Swami Dharmadev Sanskrit Samaradhak Samman.
• Dr. Jitendra Kumar (Panchkula) has been selected for his book 'Mum Sanskriti Yatra' for the year 2019 in the 'Prose genre' category in the book-awards. In the year 2020, Jaipal Shastri (Bhiwani) has been selected for his book 'Ath-Kavyamidam Mein Jeevanpathayen', Dr. Piyush Agarwal (Ambala) has been selected for his book 'Natyatrayam' (Drama) in 'Padya Vidha'.
• For the Sanskrit Sahityalankar Samman and Haryana Sanskrit Gaurav Samman, an amount of two lakh rupees and a citation is given to the litterateur.
• 1.5 lakh rupees are given for Maharishi Valmiki Samman, Acharya Sthanudatta Samman, Maharishi Veda Vyasa Samman, Maharishi Vishwamitra Samman. Apart from these, Mahakavi Banabhatta Samman, Guru Virjanand Acharya Samman, Vidya Martand Pandit Sitaram Shastri Acharya Samman, Pt. Yudhishthira Mimansak Acharya Samman, Swami Dharmadev Sanskrit Samaradhak Samman and Vishisht Sanskrit Seva Samman are awarded with a prize money of Rs 1 lakh. 31 thousand rupees are given for the book award.

'Best International Principal' Award

Why in News

• Recently, by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF), Principal of DPS Bokaro, A.S. Gangwar was awarded the 'Best International Principal Award' for the year 2020-21.

Key Points

• In recognition of his leadership qualities, pioneering initiatives in the field of education and academic excellence of the students, the Academic Council of SOF has conferred this honor to Gangwar.
• SOF conducts National Science Olympiad, Indian Economics Olympiad, National Computer Olympiad, International Mathematics Olympiad examination every year in 42,800 schools in more than 1400 cities spread across 22 countries of the world.
• Gangwar is one of the few Principals of the eastern region who have received this award this year. Gangwar has also received several prestigious honors for his service in education, including Sandipani Vishisht Gurujan Samman, Vidyapati Shikshak Samman, Progressive Principal Award and International Principal Award (2019-20).

'Handbook of Osteoporosis as a Preventable Disease'

Why in News

• On October 22, 2021, Chhattisgarh's Higher Education and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Umesh Patel released a book titled 'Handbook of Osteoporosis a Preventable Disease' at his residence office in the capital.

Key Points

• The author of this book is Professor Dr. Nanda Gurwara and Professor Dr. Daisy Abraham.
• In this book, detailed information has been given about the causes, symptoms and remedial tests and prevention measures and right eating habits, which will be very helpful in prevention including bringing awareness about osteoporosis disease.
• Osteoporosis is a common disease, affecting one in three women and one in eight men in India. It makes the bones weak and brittle, causing fractures when a person is under slight tension, falls, coughs, or in older people. This fracture occurs in the groin, wrist or spine.

Best Horticulture State Award

Why in News

• Recently, at the 12^th Agriculture Leadership Summit organized by Agriculture True Group, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presented the Best Horticulture State award in the country to Subodh Uniyal, the Agriculture and Horticulture Minister of Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Minister Subodh Uniyal said that Uttarakhand has adopted the model of integrated agriculture to increase the income of farmers. The state government is promoting 20,000 mushroom growers and 40 percent funds have been reserved for agriculture and horticulture activities under the district scheme. This is giving a boost to poly house construction and high density fruit plantation in the state.
• Along with this, the state government is providing interest free loans of Rs 5 lakh and low interest loans of Rs 3 lakh to the farmers.
• Uniyal said that the state has focused on cultivation of high yielding fruits, encouraged farmers to grow non-seasonal vegetables and implemented the Nursery Act.
• Uttarakhand is the only state in the country, which has made a provision of six months imprisonment under the Nursery Act. The state government has developed a distinct brand of 'Uttarakhand apple' by promoting packaging and marketing.