• 01 Sep 2022

Five-day 'Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail' begins

Why In News?

• On August 31, 2022, Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary, Rajasthan Tourism Department inaugurated the five-day 'Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail' organized jointly by the Tourism Department and The Times of India at Jai Mahal Palace Hotel in Jaipur .

Key Points

• It may be mentioned that the participants participating in the Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail started their journey in Jaipur. This trail will reach Mandawa the next day. In the coming days, the trail will reach Udaipur via Bikaner, Jodhpur, where the trail will end on September 5. During this, participants will enjoy delicious cuisines from different regions of the state.
• A team of renowned bloggers and influencers from more than 20 countries and states including renowned master chefs Shipra Khanna and Harpal Singh Sokhi are participating in the trail.
• Secretary Gayatri Rathore said that Rajasthan is famous all over the world for its culture, rich heritage and glorious history. The cuisine and cuisine of the state are famous all over the world and cuisine has played an important role in increasing tourism in the state.
• He said that the state is world famous for its hospitality. Indigenous or foreign tourists, they are overwhelmed by the art and culture, forts, palaces, stepwells, thar desert, camel rides, ghoomars, kalbelia dance, colorful traditional costumes and delicious delicacies.
• The geographical conditions, cultural and historical heritage of Rajasthan have made a special impact on the culinary and culinary arts of the state. Each city of the state has its own unique cuisine. There is a lot of potential for new concepts of culinary tourism and many culinary courses.

Rajasthan Crossed the Figure of Three Crores in Linking Aadhaar Number with Voter ID card

Why In News?

• On August 30, 2022, Chief Electoral Officer of Rajasthan Praveen Gupta informed that Rajasthan has crossed the three crore mark by achieving a historic achievement in the campaign to link Aadhaar number with the voter ID card, which is going on in the state from August 1.

Key Points

• Praveen Gupta informed that till now a total of 3 crore 1 lakh 34 thousand 321 have been received under Form 6B.
• In 31 assembly constituencies, more than 1.80 lakh Aadhaar numbers have been added, while in 7 assembly constituencies this figure has crossed 2.0 lakh.
• Dholpur leads in adding of Aadhaar numbers with 85.23 percent. Sawai Madhopur 74.05%, Ganganagar 73.10%, Nagaur 69.60%, Alwar 69.22% are the leading districts of the state.
• He said that the average percentage of the state is 59.33%, while the average of all the assembly constituencies is 1 lakh 50 thousand 672. Kishangarh are the leading assembly constituencies with Bas 86.91%, Degana 86.19%, Dholpur 85.67%, Rajkheda 85.46%, Basedi 85.25%.

Haryana Airport Development Limited Company

Why In News?

• On August 31, 2022, The cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr. Manohar Lal, approved the development works of airports/airstrips/helipads under the Government of Haryana as well as other important projects like setting up of Integrated Manufacturing Clusters under the Government of India. Approval was accorded to the formation of Haryana Airport Development Corporation Limited Company for completion.

Key Points

• Besides, the Department of Civil Aviation and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC) will work on the 'Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor' project through a joint venture.
• The main primary objective of setting up the above corporation is to manage, regulate and implement the airport projects/joint venture projects of the state government with the objective of establishing and operating an integrated aviation hub at Hisar and other airfields of Haryana. In addition, the corporation will assist in the operation, maintenance, development, design, construction, up-gradation, modernization and management of airports.
• The Corporation purchases/manages all properties and infrastructure such as runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals for passengers, airport renovation including provision of cargo facilities, building expansion and management for providing aeronautical activities and services. Will assist in land acquisition.
• Also the Corporation is involved in the development, project financing, project monitoring, installation, strengthening, up-gradation, repair, rehabilitation, improvement, operation, construction, maintenance and implementation of the Corporation Project at Integrated Aviation Hub at Hisar and other airfields/airports in Build, Design , will work either directly or in public-private partnership (PPP) mode in developing the infrastructure.
• In addition, the incorporation of Haryana Airports Development Corporation Limited will assist in procurement, implementation, operation and maintenance of plans, projects, programmes, concessions and other contractual arrangements on a commercial format for the provision and development of projects and infrastructure.
• In addition, the Corporation will also undertake planning, development, operation and maintenance and disposal of project site, land and built-up areas of the Civil Aviation Department in accordance with the prescribed laws, specifications and standards.
• It may be mentioned that Haryana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India under the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Government of India on 7th July, 2017.
• Apart from this, the state government is also working on a proposal to develop an integrated manufacturing cluster in the city side area of Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar under the 'Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor' scheme of the Central Government. About 1605 acres of land has already been identified for its first phase.
• The Integrated Manufacturing Cluster Project will be implemented as a joint venture with the Department of Civil Aviation, Haryana and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited launched by the Government of India as an autonomous body.

Surcharge Waiver Scheme-2022

Why In News?

• On August 31, 2022, Managing Director of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Dr. Saket Kumar said that the Surcharge Waiver Scheme-2022 has been started by the Haryana Government to solve the problem of outstanding electricity bills.

Key Points

• The benefits of this scheme can be availed by such consumers of urban and rural areas, whose bill was outstanding till December 31, 2021 and the bill is still pending. This plan is for both Connected and Disconnected customers.
• Dr. Saket Kumar informed that under this scheme, the complete surcharge of domestic (urban and rural) agricultural consumers and electricity connections related to government, gram panchayat and municipal corporation will be frozen so far and they will be given only the basic amount till now. will have to pay.
• The consumer can also deposit the principal amount in lump sum or with the next three bills. Consumers will also be given an additional discount of 5 percent on the principal amount on a lump sum deposit.
• He said that the frozen surcharge will be waived in proportion to the continuous payment of the next six bills. If the consumer does not deposit his principal amount in lump sum or fixed installments and does not deposit the next 6 bills continuously, then his frozen surcharge will be added back to the bill and the consumer will be excluded from the scheme.
• All categories of consumers can take advantage of this scheme. The surcharge on the outstanding principal amount of such consumers will be recalculated and interest will have to be paid at the rate of ordinary 10 percent per annum instead of the current rate of interest of 1.5 percent per month.
• Wrong bills made by all types of consumers will be corrected according to the conditions of the department. Such consumers, whose case is pending in the court, can also adopt this scheme. Provided that they have to withdraw their case from the court.
• About 2240985 consumers of the state will get the opportunity to take advantage of this scheme, including 24479 government consumers and the department's interest of about Rs 1834 crore can be waived off. This scheme will continue till November 30, 2022.

Backward Classes (A) will get Reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions

Why In News?

• On August 31, 2022, Haryana Backward Classes Commission's report was approved in this regard to ensure political reservation rights of Backward Classes (A) in Panchayati Raj Institutions in the cabinet meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that the commission constituted under the leadership of Justice (Retd) Darshan Singh, former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, conducted a thorough inquiry to assess the political backwardness of the citizens belonging to backward classes. The Commission observed that the Backward Classes Block-A (BC-A) people need to be provided political reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions due to lack of adequate representation in the political setup.
• Reservation recommended by the Commission in Gram Panchayat
  • The posts of Panch in each Gram Panchayat shall be reserved for the Backward Classes (A) in the same proportion as the total number of seats, which shall be one-half percent of the population of the Backward Classes (A) in the total population of the Gram Sabha area. If the decimal value is 0.5 or more, it will be rounded to the next higher integer.
  • Provided that if the population of the Backward Class (A) is two percent or more of the total population of the assembly area, there shall be at least one Panch belonging to the Backward Class (A) in every Gram Panchayat.
  • Similarly, eight percent of the total number of posts of sarpanch in a block and if the decimal value is 0.5 or more, it will be reserved for backward class (A) by rounding it to the next higher integer.
• Reservation recommended in Panchayat Samiti by the Commission
  • The members' posts in each Panchayat Samiti shall be reserved for the Backward Classes (A) in the same proportion as the total seats, which shall be one-half percent of the population of the Backward Classes (A) in the total population of the block. If the decimal value is 0.5 or more, it will be rounded to the next higher integer.
• Reservation recommended by the Commission in the Zilla Parishad
• The posts of members in each Zila Parishad shall be reserved for the Backward Classes (A) in the same proportion as the total number of seats, which shall be one-half percent of the population of the Backward Classes (A) in the total population of the Zilla Parishad area.
• The Commission has said that as directed by the Apex Court, the reservation shall not exceed 50 percent of the total seats reserved in favour of Scheduled Castes and BC(A) in any Panchayati Raj Institution.
• It is further clarified that on adding the number of seats so reserved for Backward Classes (A) with the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, if their total number exceeds 50 percent of the total seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions then the number of seats reserved for the Backward Classes (A) shall be kept so that the reservation of Scheduled Castes and BC (A) shall be limited to 50 percent of the total seats of the Panch of the Gram Panchayat, the member of the Panchayat Limited and the member of the Zilla Parishad. Don't be more
• Explaining these recommendations, the Commission has given an example that assuming the population of backward class block A in the village is 25 percent of the total population of gram sabha, then 12.5 percent seats will be reserved for the citizens of backward class block (A).
• Where the Scheduled Caste population in a village is 50 percent or more, the Backward Class (A) will not get any reservation irrespective of the percentage of its population.

New Districts will be Formed in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• On August 31, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the process of formation of new districts in the state will be started soon.

Key Points

• He said that the demand for formation of new districts has been going on for a long time, it will be discussed with all the public representatives soon. Wherever the districts can be reorganized within the state, new districts will be formed.
• Under this, Rishikesh, Purola, Roorkee, Kotdwar, Kashipur, Ranikhet and Didihat cities are being considered. He indicated that four new districts may come up in Garhwal and three in Kumaon division.
• At present, there are 13 districts in the state. On August 15, 2011, the then Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' first announced the creation of four districts in Uttarakhand. These included Ranikhet, Didihat, Kotdwar and Yamunotri.
• Reorganization of Almora district was proposed to create Ranikhet, Didihat from Pithoragarh district, Kotdwar from Pauri district and Yamunotri district from Uttarkashi district.
• At the same time, in March 2021, the then Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had announced to make summer capital Gairsain as the third commissionerate. Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Almora and Bageshwar districts were included in this. After this, a fierce protest started regarding the inclusion of Almora in the Gairsain Commissionerate. Meanwhile, after the resignation of Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Rawat becoming the CM, this issue also got suppressed.

Uniform Civil Code will be Implemented in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• On August 30, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami informed during a media interaction that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand within two months.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that the committee formed on the Common Civil Code is doing its work. The process of preparing the draft is underway. The government will soon make its draft public.
• Significantly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had promised the public during the assembly elections that he would implement the Common Civil Code in Uttarakhand if the BJP government comes to power. The proposal was approved on March 23.
• After the implementation of the new law, Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after independence. Although this law is also applicable in Goa, but this law was made there before independence.
• Uniform Civil Code means uniform law for all citizens. There will be no separate law for any religion or caste. Once the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, all religions will follow the same law.