State PCS

• 30 May 2023

BHU became the Second-Best University in the Country

Why In News?

• Banaras Hindu University (BHU) of Uttar Pradesh has been declared as the second-best university in the country in the rankings released by IIRF (Indian Institutional Ranking Framework) on 29 May 2023.

Key Points:

• IIRF ranks educational institutions on the basis of several parameters including teaching, research quality and productivity, placements, industry linkages, reputation and image.
• In the ranking of Central Universities across the country, BHU has been given 982.95 marks out of 1000. JNU, which came in first place, got 983.12 marks and AMU got 982.88 marks in third place.
• Other prominent universities are Jamia Millia Islamia, the University of Hyderabad, DU and the Central University of Punjab.
• In the rank table, BHU has scored higher than JNU in terms of placements and international outlook, while it lags behind the top university by a narrow margin in terms of teaching, research, and placement arrangements. BHU got only 0.17 marks less than JNU which came in first place.

23 lakh farmers of the State will Get Seed Minikits of Major Crops

Why in News?

• On 29 May 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a financial proposal of Rs 128.57 crore to distribute free Minikits of certified varieties of major crops to 23 lakh small & marginal farmers of the state.

Key Points:

• Each farmer of the state will be given 5 kg of hybrid maize, 2 kg of mustard, 4 kg each of moong & moth and 1 kg of sesame seeds in the seed minikit. Seeds of certified varieties will be made available free of cost.
• The seed minikit will be procured from the Rajasthan State Seed Corporation/National Seed Corporation by the Tribal Area Development Department for tribal farmers and by the Agriculture Department for non-tribal farmers.
• These mini-kits will be distributed by the Agriculture Department through the Raj Kisan Saathi portal.
• It is worth mentioning that the 'Rajasthan Seed Production & Distribution Mission' is being run to increase seed production in the state and to provide free seeds to small & marginal farmers. This decision has been taken in view of the excellent results of this mission.
• It is known that an announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister in the budget for the year 2023-24.

Experimental Test of Water Supply Started in Tourist City Khajuraho

Why In News?

• According to the information given by Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department on May 29, 2023, the experimental testing of water supply systems has started in the state's tourist cities Khajuraho and Rajnagar.

Key Points

• A water purification plant of 10 MLD capacity has been set up at Kutni Dam to provide clean water to both cities. The combined cost of the water supply project in both the bodies is about Rs 69 crore with 10 years of operation and maintenance.
• Seven overhead tanks have been constructed in Khajuraho and Rajnagar, and about 150 kilometres of distribution lines have been laid in both cities to provide pure water to every household. Tap connections have been given to 3500 houses in Khajuraho and 2000 houses in Rajnagar.
• It is worth mentioning that the metered tap connections are being given in this scheme. Its advantage will be that in future the residents will have to pay according to the usage of water which will be very economical.
• Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Company, an undertaking of the Urban Development and Housing Department, has worked on the water supply project in these cities in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.
• Due to this, pure water is now reaching the homes of the residents here. Now there is no need to stand in line for water. Due to this, the time wasted in filling water is being put to good use. The water pressure is also sufficient, due to which there is no need to install a motor.

Haryana Education Board Signed MoU with International Baccalaureate

Why in News?

• According to information received from the media on 29 May 2023, to provide the best quality education to the students in the state, the Haryana School Education Board has signed an MoU with the International Baccalaureate (IB) of Geneva (Switzerland) in the presence of Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar at Pathways School in Gurugram district.

Key Points:

• An MoU has been signed with the State School Education Board and IB Board, Geneva to make the state's education level recognized as international.
• On this occasion, Education Minister Kanwarpal Gurjar said that the teachers teaching in schools will be given international-level training from time to time by the IB Board, which will improve the level of teaching as well as provide quality education to the students.
• He said that the students of the state would get international recognition for pursuing higher education. Soon the students of the state will get to see positive results in this direction.
• It is known that the board is touching new heights because of the better educational, reformative and positive approach of Dr. VP Yadav, Chairman, Haryana School Education Board. In a very short tenure, he successfully carried out the necessary amendments to the curriculum of the Haryana School Education Board, preparing the lesson plan and phased evaluation plan for the first time.

Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park (RIPA) established in Gram Panchayat Chandkhuri

Why in News?

• According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on 29 May 2023, a milk processing unit has been set up at a cost of 2 crores under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park (RIPA) in Gram Panchayat Chandkhuri of Durg development block of the state.

Key Points:

• An administrative area has been constructed inside Ripa, in which a kiosk for a banking facility, WiFi connection for an internet facility, helpdesk has been constructed for information about state government schemes and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been installed in the middle of Ripa campus.
• Packaged milk, curd and condensed milk are produced by the youth at Ripa Centre. For its production, necessary machines have been made available by the administration at the RIPA site. Along with this, according to the demand of the sector, new products will also be given a place in the milk processing unit soon.
• A total of 41 people from the surrounding area will be provided employment opportunities from this unit. For the successful operation of the enterprise, the district administration is ensuring sales in the local markets by entering into contracts with private companies.
• Apart from this, the finished products will also be supplied to the government departments, so that by ensuring the consumption of the product, the working labourers are guaranteed employment and their future can be made better and prosperous from an economic point of view.

Free WiFi through Fiber to Home Connection in 1114 Villages of the State

Why in News?

• On 29 May 2023, the Director of Uttarakhand Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) Nitika Khandelwal said that a free WiFi facility will soon be available in all government offices and bodies of 1114 gram panchayats of the state. For this, an agreement has been signed between the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) and BSNL.

Key Points:

• ITDA Director Nitika Khandelwal said that an agreement has been signed with BSNL for this Rs 50 crore project.
• Under this, 3090 Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections will be given. Also, BSNL will take care of their maintenance for the next five years.
• It is worth mentioning that last year the government released a budget of 50 crores for the FTTH scheme, but the work could not be started on time. To avoid a budget lapse after 31 March, the government has given this budget again this year.
• Under this scheme, BSNL will provide FTTS service in 1114-gram panchayats of the state. Under its ambit, all the government institutions coming under that Gram Panchayat will be included till the Panchayat Ghar. Free WiFi facilities will be available at all these places.
• It may be noted that the gram panchayats in which the work of laying optical fiber cable was given to BSNL under Bharat Net-1, were not able to complete it within the stipulated time.

Equipment Worth Rs 16.97 Crore will be Purchased to improve Nutrition Indices

Why in News?

• On May 29, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved a financial proposal of Rs 16.97 crore for providing various nutrition growth monitoring equipment in the Anganwadi centres of the state.

Key Points

• With this decision of the Chief Minister, equipment like an infant meter, stadiometer, weighing machine, etc. will be made available in Anganwadi centres.
• With this accurate information about various nutritional indices including weight and length of babies and mothers will be available and desired nutrition can be given to them.
• It is noteworthy that the announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister in the budget for the year 2023-24.