• 01 May 2023

Arvind Panagariya became the Chancellor of Nalanda University

Why in News?

On 29 April 2023, the Government of India appointed renowned economist Arvind Panagariya as the Chancellor of the famous Nalanda University located in the Nalanda district of Bihar.

Key Points

• Newly appointed Chancellor Arvind Panagariya has served as the first Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog established in 2015.
• Padma Bhushan awardee Arvind Panagariya is currently a Professor of Economics at the prestigious Columbia University, USA.
• It is worth mentioning that the newly established Nalanda University located on the premises of the ancient Nalanda University located in the Nalanda district of Bihar is an international institution of national importance established by the Act of the Parliament of India, which works under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Assembly Speaker inaugurated the National Cooperative Fair

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Dr. C.P. Joshi inaugurated the National Cooperative Spices Fair, 2023, lighting the lamp at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur.

Key Points

• Cooperative societies of Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Punjab and other cooperative societies have brought their products in this fair. This will increase business. In the era of competition, people's faith in cooperative products is undoubtedly high. This fair will continue till 7 May.
• Turmeric, Chilli, Coconut Oil, Kerala Chips, Spices, Namkeen and many special products are the centre of attraction for sale in this fair by the Cooperative Society from Kerala.
• This time, in the Rashtriya Sahakar Masala Mela, along with whole and ground spices, special products of Sharbat and Thandai have been made available to give coolness. The special Thandai of Nathdwara remains the centre of attraction at the fair.
• Udaipur Bhandar and Rajsamand Bhandar have brought a wide range of Sharbat of Khus, Paan, Rose etc. to the city dwellers.

Urdu Academy Announces Awards for Works of Writers

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, the Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy of Culture Department announced 6 All India Awards and 12 Regional Awards for the books published in the year 2021 & 2022.

Key Points

• The awards announced are as follows-

Prize	Creator	Creations
Mir Taqi Mir Award	Dr. Shafi Hidayat Qureshi, Datia	Inchisat Fikr
Hakim Kamrul Hasan Award	Arif Aziz, Bhopal	Javia-e-Nigah
Hamid Saeed Khan Award	Rashanda Mehdi, Delhi	Monsoon Store
Shadaan Indori Award	Badra Wasti, Bhopal	Naach Gaan
Johar Qureshi Award	Renu Behl, Delhi	Jahan-E-Arzoo
Abraham Joseph Award	Rizwan-ul-Haq, Delhi	Khudkushi Nama
Regional Award	Creator	Creations
Siraj Mir Khan Sahar Award	Shaur Ashna, Burhanpur	Intezar Aur Kab Tak
Basit Bhopali Award	Dr. Azam, Bhopal	Dard ka Chaand Bujh Gaya
MD Ali Taj Award	Ashok Mizaz Badr, Sagar	Mai Ikai Hoon Mai Samaj Hoon
Nawab Siddiqui Hasan Khan Award	Rashid Anjum, Bhopal	Awaz ki Duniya Ka Dost Ameen Sayani
Shari Bhopali Award	Rafiq Ravani, Rewa	Kuchh Sher Kuchh Kutaat Kuchh Gazalen
Kaif Bhopali Award (Urdu Teacher)	Rushda Jameel, Bhopal
Shambhu Dayal Sukhan Award	Mahendra Agarwal, Shivpuri	Roo-ba–Roo
Shifa Gwalior Award	Dr. Wasif Khan Yar, Burhanpur	Mitti Daal Par
Jaan Nisar Akhtar Award	Pro. Afaq Hussain Siddiqui, Bhopal	Urdu Shayari men Shaksi Marsiye
Pannalal Noor Srivastava Award	Riyaz Alam Mohammadi, Jabalpur	Tajalliyate Bazme Sana
Suraj Kala Sahay Award	Khalida Siddiqui, Bhopal	Gulabi Sham ke Saaye
Nida Fazli Award	Jameel Ahmed Jameel, Jabalpur	D'rubabe fikr

• 51 thousand rupees will be given in the form of All India Award and 31 thousand rupees will be given in 12 regional awards. All these honours will be given at a state-level decoration ceremony.

Culture Department announced the Winners of the Song Writing competition under Ladli Bahna Yojana

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, the Madhya Pradesh Culture Department announced the winners of songwriting and musical composition in eight different dialects under the Ladli Bahna scheme.

Key Points:

• For Hindi, Brijesh Singh Yadav of Gwalior has been adjudged first, Rahul Vishwakarma of Vidisha second and Ashok Pandey of Singrauli third.
• And for the Bundeli dialect, Sumit Dubey of Narsinghpur has been selected first, Girraj Paliwal of Sheopur second and Niranjan Singh/Pradeep Soni of Jabalpur in third place.
• Similarly, in the competition, Ankur Joshi of Khargone has been selected for the first position, Harish Dubey of Maheshwar for the second position and Yashwant Yadav of Khargone for the third position for the Nimari dialect.
• Pt. Hari Hareshwar Poddar of Ujjain has been selected first, Dr. Trupti Nagar of Ujjain second and Mahesh Rao of Narsinghgarh third for the Malvi dialect.
• No entries were received in the Korku dialect. Whereas none of the participants was found eligible for the award in the songs and audio clips received in Bagheli, Bhadawari, Bhili and Gondi languages.
• It is worth mentioning that compositions were invited from the participants in songwriting and literary composition in 8 different dialects of the state including Hindi, Bundeli, Bagheli, Nimadi, Malvi, Bhadavari, Bhili, Gondi and Korku, based on Madhya Pradesh Government's Ladli Bahna Yojana.

Governor participated in the 'Mann Ki Baat' program along with 'Padma' winners & Other Dignitaries

Why in News?

On 30 April 2023, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Madhya Pradesh's Padma awardee and the celebrities mentioned in Mann Ki Baat and invited dignitaries attended the Raj Bhavan in the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast program on 30 April 2023. A special program of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was organized in Sandipani, the huge auditorium of the Raj Bhavan.

Key Points:

• On this occasion, Governor Mangubhai Patel presented mementoes to the Padma awardees of the state who came to the Raj Bhavan after the Mann Ki Baat programme. Padma awardees included Vijay Dutt Sridhar, Dr. Janak Palta, Shanti Parmar, Ramesh Parmar, Bhuri Bai and Kailash Madbaiah.
• On the other hand, after the program, the Governor presented mementoes to the personalities related to the events of Madhya Pradesh mentioned in Mann Ki Baat at the Raj Bhavan. These included Mamta Sharma, Subhash Jilodia, Master Tushar, Asharam Chaudhary, Usha Dubey, Atul Patidar, Babita Rajput, Ram Lotan Kushwaha, Arjun Singh, Rohit Sisodia, Rajneesh, Field Director Pench Tiger Reserve, Gyanendra Purohit, Monika Purohit, Geeta, Prashant Dhawale, Bhavna Daheria, and Manju Mandloi.
• After the program, the Governor inaugurated the exhibition put up by the Central Bureau of Communications at Sandipani Auditorium. This exhibition focuses on the achievements of the personalities of Madhya Pradesh mentioned in the Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, New India changing India and Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat.
• It is worth mentioning that the first episode of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program was telecasted on 3 October 2014.

The Chief Minister made several Important Announcements for Water Conservation.

Why in News?

On 27 April 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal made several important announcements in the direction of water conservation on the second day of the concluding session of the 2-day water seminar organized by the Haryana Water Resources Authority under Amrit Jal Kranti in Panchkula.

Key Points:

• Important announcements in the direction of water conservation-
• The area under direct seeding of paddy will be increased from 73,000 acres to about 2 lakh acres, increasing the area by 275 percent. This will save 218 mcm of water. For this, provision will be made for the availability of machinery and subsidy.
• Apart from this, more than 9500 water sources will be renovated in the next two years. These include 5308 ponds, 63 Chowk dams, 81 shallow tube wells and 4000 recharge borewells.
• An increase of more than 300 percent will be brought under natural farming from 6,000 acres to 25,000 acres. This effort will not only save water but also improve soil fertility.
• The state government has set a target of reclamation of 1 lakh acres of saline land in brackish water areas. To speed up the work to achieve this, the Agriculture Department will work closely with the Central Saline Soil Reclamation Institute and will finalize its action plan in the next three months. Machines will be made available for this work. If provision of subsidy has to be made, that too will be done.
• The World Bank has given in-principle approval for the expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana in 14 districts of the state.
• In the first phase, a budget of 700 crores was received under the five-year plan. In the second phase also, a budget of about Rs 700 crore will be made available by the World Bank. This will cover 90 percent of the waterlogged area of the state.
• In the next two years, 50 percent of the demand for water in the agriculture sector will be met by the treated wastewater of STP. Apart from this, 75 STPs have been set up for the needs of agriculture. water will be used.
• Not only this but in the next two years, 100 percent of treated wastewater will be reused in 18 out of 31 HSIIDC estates. Only 50 percent of water is being used in STP, which will be increased to 100 percent.
• To make more use of water in the industrial sector, the state government has made a special plan, under which Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) will be implemented in IMT Sohna, IMT Kharkhoda and Global City Gurugram.
• The area under fisheries will be increased. Presently fish rearing is being done on 2500 acres, which has been targeted to be increased.
• The Energy Department will prepare the DPR of the project for the reuse of treated wastewater in Yamunanagar, Panipat, Hisar and Jhajjar power plants in the next 3 months.
• Possibilities of using treated wastewater for cooling power plants will also be explored, subject to economic viability.
• In the next two years, more than 250 urban ponds will be renovated under various schemes. Installation of Micro STPs and twin pipelines will be ensured in all licensed colonies/HSVP sectors. Treated wastewater will be used in parks and green areas of all urban areas.
• It is worth mentioning that on April 26, Haryana Water Resources Authority inaugurated a two-day water seminar organized in Panchkula under Amrit Jal Kranti.

Haryana Govt. will start Social Audit of 10 Service Schemes

Why in News?

On 27 April 2023, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, while presiding over the second meeting of the Governing Body of the Haryana Society in Chandigarh, said that to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of schemes and programs by the state government, social justice, jurisdiction, scheduled caste and social auditing of 10 service schemes of Backward Classes Welfare and Antyodaya (Services) Department will be started.

Key Points:

• Other schemes like National Social Assistance Programme, 15th Finance Commission Grant and Swachh Bharat Mission will also be implemented in the current financial year 2023-24.
• Director Social Audit Unit PMAY-G, 15th FCGS, SBM, NSAP, Rurban Mission, Senior Citizen Homes, Anti Drug Centres, Pre-Matric and Post Matric Scholarship, PM-Ajay, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas, Residential Schools, SC, ST loan plan and prepare an annual calendar for conducting a social audit of various development schemes like cases related to atrocities.
• In the meeting, it was decided to constitute a three-member committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil) at the district level to strengthen the Social Audit Unit. Its Block Development and Panchayat Officer and SDO Panchayati Raj will also be its members. The committee will identify the village resource person to conduct the social audit.
• The Governing Body approved the proposal to enhance the honorarium of Village Resource Person from Rs.500 to Rs.650 including TA, and DA per working day.
• Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development, Anil Malik said that the Social Audit Unit has identified and trained 824 village resource persons from all 22 districts of Haryana. These include members of self-help groups, social organizations and village groups.

Chief Minister launched Air Ambulance service for the 1st time for the General Public

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched the 'Air Ambulance Service' at Birsa Munda Airport to provide emergency health facilities to the common citizens of the state.

Key Points:

• A state-level cell has been constituted for 'Air Ambulance Service' by the Civil Aviation Division. The public of the state can get the service of air ambulance by contacting by telephone or through e-mail.
• The applicant will be informed over the phone itself about the possible expenditure as per the destination. After the consent of the applicant, a provision has been made to prepare the aircraft within 2 hours by the air ambulance operator, so that the needy can be taken to the destination as soon as possible.
• Under this service, a provision has also been made to reschedule the flight for the convenience of the common citizens.
• At present, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Tirupati have been identified as major destinations from Ranchi. Apart from Ranchi, this service will also be available in Deoghar, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Giridih and Dumka.
• It is not that only those who can pay will be able to use this service, there is a system to take those who cannot pay according to need through air ambulance and provide health services.

1st Prize to Chhattisgarh for Innovation in Safe Abortion Services

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, Chhattisgarh received the 1st prize for innovation in safe abortion services in the National Consultation on Comprehensive Abortion Care organized by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• State Nodal Officer for Maternal Health Dr. Shailendra Agarwal and State Advisor Abhilasha Sharma Ratre received the award on behalf of Chhattisgarh.
• It is worth mentioning that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act has been implemented to monitor safe abortion services in the country.
• According to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, a pregnant woman can get an abortion up to 24 weeks. Abortion is permitted in case of sexual assault, rape, change of marital status (widow and divorce) during minor pregnancy, and physically disabled and mentally ill women. Along with this, those women can also get abortions, whose fetus in the womb has a deformity.
• 'E-Kalyani App' has been prepared to monitor the availability of safe abortion services in private hospitals in the state and compliance of the MTP Act.
• Through this app, private hospitals can apply for providing services under the Act, which is reviewed and approved by the district-level committee.
• At present, 136 private hospitals are registered in the state in the 'E-Kalyani App', where safe abortion services are being provided under the MTP Act. Apart from these, safe abortion-related services are also available in 193 government hospitals.
• Support is being provided by the Ipas Development Foundation in the operation of safe abortion services in the state.

Direct Building Permission project started in Bhilai Charoda, Birgaon and Dhamtari

Why in News?

On 28 April 2023, Chhattisgarh's Urban Administration and Development Minister Dr. Shiv Kumar Dahria virtually inaugurated the online building permission project in three municipal corporations of the state, Bhilai Charoda, Dhamtari and Birgaon due to which the process of passing the map of building construction has become online in all the municipal corporations of the state.

Key Points

• It is known that the online building permission project has already started in 11 municipal corporations of the state.
• All physical touch points have been removed in this software so that citizens do not need to go to the office for work related to building permission, verification of documents will also be online and an online payment facility is also available. Citizens will now get the benefit of this facility at home itself.
• Time limit has also been fixed for the officers in this software so that this facility can be given to the citizens within the time limit.
• Through this software, Chhattisgarh Model Direct Building Permit Project has also been started in these cities, which means citizens of these cities will now be allowed to build houses up to 5000 square feet with just one click and one rupee.
• Through this process, cities are trying to transform the building permit process into a simple, quick and easy system.
• This software based on the Chhattisgarh model has been developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs under the National Urban Digital Mission.

Chief Minister released the book 'Basi'

Why in News?

On 30 April 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel released Dr. Gitesh Kumar Amrohit's book 'Basi' at his residence office.

Key Points

• Dr. Gitesh Amrohit told the Chief Minister that Basi is an integral part of the folk culture of Chhattisgarh. Last year, Bore Basi Day was celebrated with full enthusiasm in the entire state as well as in foreign countries. Inspired by this event, he got the idea of writing a book on Baasi.
• The book contains various things you need to know about Basi, including its method of preparation, nutritional value, benefits in preventing various diseases and significance in the state’s folk culture among other features.
• Information about last year’s ‘Bore Basi Diwas’ celebrations in foreign countries is also given in the book.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was honoured with the Doctorate Degree by the University of France

Why in News?

On 29 April 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was awarded the doctorate degree by the world-renowned Sorbonne University for his special initiative to advance Chhattisgarh's rural economy with limited utilization of local resources.

Key Points

• This title was given by the Shri Aurobindo Foundation at the program 'Global Awards 2023' organized by the Sorbonne University of Paris, France, at Hotel Sayaji, capital Raipur.
• It is worth mentioning that Sorbonne University has a big place in the global educational scenario. The students who passed out from here have received 33 Nobel Prizes. This university has also appreciated the purchase of cow dung under the Godhan Nyaya Yojana in Chhattisgarh by the Chief Minister and the operation of the Narva, Garwa, Ghurwa, and Bari program under the Suraji Gram Yojana.
• University researchers and professors are also preparing a research paper on the remarkable work done by the Chief Minister to take forward the development of the rural economy, which will be published in the world-famous Research Journal of the University.

Actress Dr. Arushi Nishank receives the 'Fresh Face of Bollywood' award

Why in News?

On 29 April 2023 Renowned actress, filmmaker and social activist from Uttarakhand Dr. Arushi Nishank felicitated as the 'Fresh Face of Bollywood' by Sheikh Yacoub Al Ali and HE Arefa Al Falahi at the Global Inspirational Awards and Fashion Festival in Dubai has been awarded.

Key Points

• This award was given to Arushi Nishank for her outstanding work in Bollywood as an actress and producer.
• It is worth mentioning that Arushi Nishank was born in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. Aarushi's father Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank is a Member of Parliament from the Haridwar constituency and he has also been a former Union Education Minister.
• Arushi, who rose to fame by being a part of three music videos by T-Series and G-Music, will next be seen in the film 'Taarini'.
• Arushi Nishank runs her own production house - Himshree Films and is producing a show with Disney+Hotstar.