State PCS

• 31 May 2022

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

Why in News?

• On May 30, 2022, Uttar Pradesh State’s minister of Animal Husbandry Dharampal Singh, said that FIRs under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will be registered against farmers who abandon their unproductive cattle.

Key Points

• The purpose of this Act is 'to prevent causing unnecessary pain or suffering to animals', for which a provision has been made in the Act for causing unnecessary cruelty and pain to animals.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Act.
• The Act provides guidelines for defining the animals and various types of animals as well as experiments on animals for scientific purposes.
• The Act provides for a limit period of 3 months, after which there will be no prosecution for any offence under this Act.

Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan

Why in News?

• On May 30, 2022, 'Anhad-Swar', a collection of poems by poet Sagarika Rai was released at the Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Bihar Hindi Literature Conference).

Key Points

• Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan is a Hindi service organization, which was established on October 19, 1919 in Muzaffarpur.
• Jagannath Prasad along with Dr. Rajendra Prasad has played an important role in its establishment.
• From its inception till 1935, its headquarters was in Muzaffarpur, but in 1935 its headquarters were shifted to Patna.
• It is noteworthy that the 41^st General Assembly of Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was organized on April 2 and 3 at Kadam Kuan, Patna, the auditorium of Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, in memory of regional story writer Renu.
• In this convention, Dr. Ziaur Rehman Jafri, Assistant Professor, Department of Hindi, Mirza Ghalib College, Gaya was honored for his famous book 'Ghazal writing tradition and development of Hindi Ghazal'.

Nehru Youth Transit Hostel and Facilitation Centre

Why in News?

• On May 30, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the proposal for construction and operation of the 250-room 'Nehru Youth Transit Hostel and Facilitation Centre' in Delhi .

Key Points

• Ashok Gehlot has taken this big decision to provide relief to the students of low income groups of Rajasthan who are preparing for competitive examinations and staying in Delhi.
• He said that the construction of a hostel at Udaipur House in Delhi at a cost of Rs. 330 crore will facilitate the stay of 500 low income group students from Rajasthan who are staying in Delhi to prepare for various competitive examinations and pursue career counselling.
• It may be mentioned that in order to build a better future for the youth of the state, the Chief Minister had announced the opening of Nehru Youth Transit Hostel and Facilitation Centre in Delhi in the State Budget 2022-23.

Madhya Pradesh To Hold Expenditure Account for Election of Councilor Posts For The First Time

Why in News?

• On May 30, 2022, State Election Commissioner Basant Pratap Singh informed that for the first time in the civic body elections, a provision has been made for election expenditure account of councilors posts.

Key Points

• Instructions have also been given to set up an Election Help Desk at the Returning Officer's Office for supervision of expenditure accounts.
• It may be mentioned that earlier, the expenditure accounts of the candidates for the post of Mayor and Chairman were only maintained.
• The maximum limit for election expenditure for the posts of Councilors is RS 8 lakh 75 thousand for a population above 10 lakh and Rs 3 lakh 75 thousand for less than 10 lakh population as per census 2011 in the Municipal Corporation.
• In municipal councils, the maximum expenditure limit for election expenditure of councilors is Rs. 2 lakh 50 thousand for population above one lakh, Rs. one lakh 50 thousand on population from 50 thousand to one lakh and more than 50 thousand people is one lakh rupees.
• At the same time, 35 lakhs in municipal corporations with a population of more than 10 lakh and a maximum limit of Rs 15 lakh for the mayor candidates in municipal corporations with a population of less than 10 lakh.

Chief Minister Felicitates Athletes Who Won in Deaflympics, 2021

Why in News?

• On May 30, 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar honoured the Deaflympics athletes with cash awards of about Rs 6 crore during the state-level felicitation ceremony held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula.

Key Points

• It may be mentioned that the Deaflympics, 2021 Games were held in Brazil from May 1 to May 15, in which out of the total 16 medals won by the players of the country, 6 medals including 4 gold have been won by the players of Haryana. That is why Haryana is known as the medal factory of India.
• The Chief Minister informed that out of 65 athletes from India who participated in this international competition, 15 were from the state of Haryana.
• The Chief Minister presented cheques of Rs 1.20 crore each to Rohit Bhaker, Mahesh, Diksha Dagar and Sumit Dahiya to win gold medals in badminton, golf and wrestling respectively. At the same time, Amit and Virendra Singh, who won a bronze medal in wrestling, were given cheques of 40 lakh rupees each.
• Apart from this, the Chief Minister gave cheques of Rs 2.5 lakh each to Priyanka, Balram, Yogesh Dagar, Nirchira, Ajay Kumar, Kuldeep Sharma, Asif Khan, Aman and Shubham Vashistha to participate in this international competition.
• At the same time, the Chief Minister also dedicated four state-of-the-art sports facilities built at a cost of Rs 116 crore.
• These include the Scientific Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre built at a cost of about Rs 50 crore, hockey astro-turf built at a cost of Rs 10 crore and renovation of athletics track at a cost of about Rs 6 crore.
• Chief Minister said, "We have made a provision to give a cash prize of Rs 6 crore to the Olympic Games gold medalist, Rs 4 crore to the silver medalist and Rs 2.5 crore to the bronze medalist.
• Haryana is the first state in the country which has made a provision to give an advance of Rs 5 lakh to the players for the preparation of the game so that they do not face any difficulty in their preparation.
• The Chief Minister said that the government has implemented the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 to ensure employment for outstanding sportspersons.

Jain shrine Parasnath

Why in News?

• Recently Dr. Singh, Associate Professor of the Botany Department of Vinoba Bhave University. The study being conducted by Prashant Kumar Mishra and his team has revealed that Parasnath and its terai forest cover has been continuously declining for the last four decades due to increasing human activities.

Key Points

• The Parasnath Hills are a range of hills located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, the highest of which is 1350 meters high.
• Jains call it Sammed Shikhar. This hill has been named Parasnath after the 23rd Jain Tirthankara.
• Parasnath is a major centre of Jain Religion, as out of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, 20 Tirthankaras attained Kaivalya here. For each of these a temple (Gumti or Tuk) has been built on the hill.
• It is noteworthy that the Santhals call this hill Marang Buru. They celebrate a hunting festival on the full moon day in Vaishakha (mid-April).