• 02 May 2022

e-Pension Portal

Why in News?

• On the occasion of International Labour Day (May 1, 2022), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a new platform e-Pension Portal to ensure transparent and hassle-free disbursement of pension to retired government employees.

Key Points

• This end-to-end online pension portal has been developed by the Finance Department to simplify the process of getting pension.
• This will eliminate the need for pensioners to go anywhere physically and make the process transparent, paperless, contactless and cashless.
• Taking into account the complaints of retiring state government employees, the portal will track the status of their applications (PPOs).
• As per the guidelines given by the Central Government, the State Finance Department has created a portal, which will have the option to track the status of employees who have attained the age of 59 years and six months. This will benefit about 11.5 lakh pensioners in the state.
• This system has been implemented for the state government employees and soon other departments will also be involved in the process, which will benefit lakhs of people and no one will have to run here and there for pension.

Bundelkhand Expressway

Why in News?

• On April 30, 2022, Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Chief Executive Officer of Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) Avnish Kumar Awasthi informed that Bundelkhand Expressway will be inaugurated In the upcoming June month.

Key Points

• Avnish Kumar Awasthi said that the construction of 14 out of 19 flyovers on Bundelkhand Expressway has been completed. The construction of bridge over Betwa and Yamuna river has been completed. The work of connecting this expressway with Agra-Lucknow Expressway has also been completed.
• The total length of Bundelkhand Expressway is 296.07 km. The expressway will pass through Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya and Etawah.
• It is worth mentioning that with the construction of this expressway, the entire Bundelkhand region will be directly connected to the National Capital Delhi through the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.

Rajasthan Tops in Universal Health Coverage

Why in News?

• On May 1, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Mega Free Heart Camp organized by Shri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, Rajkot and Ahmedabad in Jaipur and said that Rajasthan has become the leading state in the country to implement universal health coverage.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that about 1 crore 34 lakh families of the state have been covered under the 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana' and expensive treatments like kidney, heart, liver, bone marrow transplant are free of cost in the scheme.
• Free treatment and free MRI, X-ray and CT scan for IPD and OPD patients have also been introduced in all hospitals.
• It is worth mentioning that with a view to make the people of the state free from the cost of treatment and to provide better health services, the state government has launched ambitious schemes like 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana' and 'Mukhyamantri Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan'.
• He said that under the MoU signed with Satya Sai Heart Hospital, 314 children suffering from heart disease and others have been operated upon free of cost. An amount of Rs.5,000/- is being provided by the Government to the children for going to and from Gujarat.
• This hospital is providing expensive operations like heart operation free of cost.
• The Chief Minister said that action is being taken to list more than 5,000 medicines, surgical and soochres in the Nishulk Nirogi Rajasthan Scheme. At the same time, arrangements have been made to make the entire treatment cashless.
• Under the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, the insurance premium of all the families identified in the Socio-Economic Census, 2011, and those receiving covid ex-gratia amount is being paid by the State Government and all other families can join the scheme by paying half of the sum assured.

Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance Scheme

Why in News?

• The 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance Scheme' has been launched by the State Government on 1st May, 2022 with the objective of providing financial support to the insured families in the event of death or complete permanent disability arising out of accidents in the 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana'.

Key Points

• In the Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, all the insured families will be eligible beneficiaries of the scheme and financial assistance upto Rs.5 lakh will be provided in case of death of the insured family member or members in an accident or permanent complete damage to hands, feet, eyes due to accident.
• Under the Chief Minister's Chiranjeevi Accident Insurance Scheme, the benefit of the scheme will be payable on the death/damage caused by electric shock and burn in a road accident of the insured family member due to falling from the roof, collapse of the house, drowning, spraying of chemical substances, electrocution and burning.
• Under the insurance scheme, a benefit of Rs 5 lakh will be given in case of death of an insured family member in an accident, Rs 3 lakh for complete damage to both hands or both feet or both feet or both eyes or one arm and one leg or one eye in an accident and Rs 1.5 lakh on complete damage to the hands and feet and eyes in the accident.
• The scheme will be operated through the State Insurance and Provident Fund Department.

Mobile ATM Van of Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank

Why in News?

• On May 1, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot flagged off the mobile ATM unit van of Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank. He also made the first transaction by observing the mobile ATM van.

Key Points

• A total of 4 mobile ATM vans have been provided to Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank in collaboration with NABARD. These mobile ATM vans will provide banking services to the public in remote rural areas and dhanis in all districts of the bank service area.
• Along with this, the task of providing banking services to the soldiers deployed on the border will also be done through these vans.
• Through mobile ATM vans, camps will be organized to create awareness about financial literacy and digital banking and make the public aware about banking and the information about government schemes will be made available to the public.

'Mian Ka Bara' Railway Station Will Now Be Called Mahesh Nagar Halt

Why in News?

• On April 30, 2022, in the presence of Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Chaudhary, the name of 'Mian Ka Bara' railway station located in Balotra area of Barmer district of Rajasthan was changed to 'Mahesh Nagar Halt'.

Key Points

• Earlier in 2018, the name of this village was changed from Mian Ka Bara to Mahesh Nagar, but the name of the railway station could not be changed. The village falls in Samdari tehsil of Barmer district bordering Pakistan.
• It is worth mentioning that in 2018, the names of three villages of Rajasthan were changed by the then BJP government. In this, the name of Mian ka Bara village was changed to Mahesh Nagar, Ismail Khurd was renamed as Picanwa Khurd and Narpara was changed to Narpura.

MoU Between Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Culture, French Institute and Alliance France

Why in News?

• On April 30, 2022, an MoU was signed between The Madhya Pradesh Institute of Tourism and Culture, The French Institute and Alliance France to promote the promotion of artistic exchange and promotion of tourism and cultural activities of the state in France.

Key Points

• The MoU was signed by S. Viswanathan, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Emmanuel Lebron Demions, Director, French Embassy in India/French Institute in India (IFI) and Dr. Bertha Rathinam, President, Alliance France Bhopal (AFB) in the presence of Council General of France Jean-Marc Serre Charlet.
• Under the MoU, tourism and cultural activities will be shared between Madhya Pradesh and France. At the same time, tourists from France will be invited to give information regarding the tourist spots and events of Madhya Pradesh.
• The activities included in the MoU include cultural and artistic exchanges, organizing seminars, conferences, festivals, events, debates, exhibitions, workshops, training, development of festivals and joint events, concerts and screening of films etc.
• The representative team of France was briefed by the Director Viswanathan on the tourist spots of the state, tourism related activities and tourist services and facilities offered by the Corporation and various cultural events organized by the Culture Department of the State every year, such as Khajuraho Dance Festival, Tansen Festival, Gwalior and other events.

Chief Minister Shramik Siyan Sahayata Yojana

Why in News?

• On the occasion of International Labour Day (May 1, 2022), Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel announced the Mukhyamantri Shramik Siyan Sahayata Yojana for Building Workers Welfare Mandal and other construction workers registered with the Building and Other Construction Board.

Key Points

• In this scheme, a lump sum assistance of 10 thousand rupees will be provided to the elderly workers.
• For this scheme, labourers whose minimum age is 59 years and maximum age is 60 years will be eligible. At the same time, these labourers should be registered under the Mandal for the last 5 years.

Mitan Yojana

Why in News?

• On May 1, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the 'Mitan Yojana'. Under this, the civil services will be delivered to the home.

Key Points

• The scheme has been launched in 14 municipal corporations under the pilot project. The scheme will soon be extended to the entire state.
• At present, 13 types of services will be available in 14 municipal corporations and other services will also be availed through this scheme.
• Under the scheme, people will get home access to birth certificates, marriages, residence, income, death certificates and other services.
• The entire process of Mitan scheme will be digital. For services, people will have to call the Mitan toll free number 14545.
• With the launch of this scheme, the government process will be further simplified. People will get rid of the visiting the government offices time and again.
• The Chief Minister said that through this scheme, all citizens, especially the elderly, the divyangs and the illiterate, will be able to get a variety of services easily sitting at home.

Important Decisions of Chhattisgarh Council of Ministers

Why in News?

• A number of important decisions were taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on May 1, 2022.

Key Points

• The Council of Ministers approved the decision to introduce the old pension scheme in place of the new contributory pension scheme for government servants appointed with effect from November 1, 2004. The proposal for deduction of monthly contribution of 10% from salary for the new contributory pension scheme with effect from 1^st April, 2022 and a minimum of 12% of the basic pay as per the General Provident Fund Rules was agreed to.
• In order to overcome the difficulties being faced by the SC and ST persons in obtaining caste certificates due to quantitative error, it was decided to validate the caste notified in English and to mention the caste notified in English itself in the caste certificates.
• The decision to waive off the fees of examinations conducted by The Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission, Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board and Special Junior Staff Selection Board was approved.
• In the 'Rajiv Gandhi Rural Landless Agricultural Mazdoor Nyay Yojana', it was decided to increase the amount of assistance provided on an annual basis to the head of the beneficiary family from Rs.6,000 to Rs.7,000 and also to provide benefits under the scheme to Baiga, Gunia, Pujari, Haat Paharia and Baja Mohria of Devasthala who worship at the shrines of tribals in the scheduled areas of the state.
• It was decided to launch the Chhattisgarh State Securities Redemption Fund Scheme, 2022 and approved the proposal to amend the Chhattisgarh Government Reserve Purchase Rules, 2002 (as amended, 2022).
• The proposal to amend the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965 and the draft of the Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University (Amendment) Bill, 2022 were approved.
• It was decided to grant hotel bar licences at concessional rates for units run by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and to lease out 26 units under Chhattisgarh Tourism Board with a view to provide employment opportunities to local people and to enhance the convenience of tourists.
• The draft Chhattisgarh Protection of Primitive Tribes (Interest in Trees) Amendment Bill, 2022 was approved to simplify the process of tree felling of tribals in their own land.
• The draft Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was approved.
• With a view to promote the use of cow urine and other organic substances in a big way along with the use of vermi-compost manure in lieu of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the revival of fertility of the soil, it was decided to launch the Mati Pujan Mahaabhiyan in the state from Akshaya Tritiya (3rd May, 2022) this year.
• The Transport Minister was authorized to introduce city buses and publish new routes in Durg-Bhilai Industrial Area.
• The proposal for amendment to the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Division Transfer Scheme Rules, 2010 was approved.

Uttarakhand: First State to Implement The New Education Policy

Why in News?

• On May 1, 2022, Uttarakhand's Higher Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that the curriculum has been prepared under the New Education Policy in Higher Education. It will be implemented from the new academic session this year.

Key Points

• The syllabus prepared under the New Education Policy will be sent for cabinet approval after its presentation to the Chief Secretary. Uttarakhand will be the first state to implement it first.
• It may be mentioned that a task force was earlier constituted under the chairmanship of the Minister of Secondary Education for preparation of courses under the new education policy by the state universities. The Higher Education Minister was made its Vice President.
• The annual examination system was implemented due to shortage of faculty in universities and colleges, but now it will be abolished and the semester system will be implemented. A decision in this regard will be taken soon.
• Choice this based credit system will be applicable in all the state universities of the state. Under this system, students will have a credit bank, on the basis of this, they will be able to get admission from one college to another.
• Of the curriculum prepared under the new education policy, 70 per cent of the courses will be equally applicable in all universities, while 30 per cent of the courses will be able to be changed by the universities. The course has also been made employable.