• 02 Aug 2023

CM reviewed the works of Civil Aviation Department

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the work of the Civil Aviation Department at a high-level meeting convened at his official residence and gave necessary directions in the larger public interest.

Key Points:

• In the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed to increase the capacity of Prayagraj Airport from 300 passengers to 500 passengers along with the expansion of capacity and civic amenities of Prayagraj Airport before Prayagraj Kumbh.
• The Chief Minister said that for better connectivity of Jewar Airport, RRTS or Light Metro should be arranged there.
• At present, Uttar Pradesh has three international airports and 17 airstrips. Out of which 08 airstrips are under Indian Air Force.
• It is known that freight traffic in Uttar Pradesh increased from 5895 MT in the year 2016-2017 to 20,813 MT in the year 2022-23. In the year 2016-2017, the air traffic in the state was 46,585, while in the year 2022-2023, this number has increased to 82,615.
• Along with air flights, the number of passengers has also increased significantly. In the year 2016-2017, 59.97 lakh passengers have travelled by air, while in 2022-2023, 96.02 lakh passengers have availed of air travel.

Barh NTPC's 4th Unit started, Bihar started getting 396 MW of Additional Power

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, commercial power generation has commenced from the second unit of 660 MW of Stage-I of NTPC Barh Super Thermal Power Project. With this, according to the allocation fixed by the central government, 60% i.e. 396 MW of additional power supply has started coming to Bihar from this unit. The remaining power is being given to the States of Jharkhand, Odisha and Sikkim.

Key Points:

• The Executive Director of Barh Project Asit Dutta said that the work on the third and final unit of Barh Stage I is in progress and is likely to be completed by the next year.
• NTPC spokesperson Vishwanath Chandan said that with the commencement of commercial power generation from the second unit of Stage One of the Barh plant, the total power quota received by Bihar from the Barh plant has increased from 1526 MW to 1922 MW.
• Barh Super Thermal Power Plant is now generating a total of 2640 MW of commercial power through its four units of 660 MW, out of which Bihar has started getting 1922 MW power as per the quota. The construction of the Barh plant has cost more than 21 thousand crore rupees.
• Bihar's current power allocation from NTPC including six generation plants in Bihar has also increased from 6891 MW (including 300 MW solar power) to 7287 MW.
• It is worth mentioning that two units (Units 4 and 5) of 660 MW of the Barh Super Thermal Power Project of the second stage have been generating electricity since November 15, 2014, and February 18, 2016, respectively, while the first 660 MW unit of Stage One has been generating commercial power since November 2021.
• NTPC Regional Executive Director (East-1), DSGSS Babji said that at present NTPC has a commercial generation capacity of 9730 MW in six projects in Bihar with an investment of about Rs 80 thousand crore, while a capacity of 660 MW is under construction.
• NTPC ensures the supply of more than 90% of Bihar's average daily power demand, which is around 6,000 to 6,500 MW. With the addition of 660 MW additional generation capacity to the second unit of Stage 1 of the Barh plant, NTPC group's total installed capacity in the country has crossed 73,024 MW, including 89 power stations including 43 renewable and hydropower projects.

Rajasthan Premier League starts from August 19

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, the Rajasthan Cricket Association formally announced the start of the Rajasthan Premier League (RPL) on the lines of the Indian Premier League i.e. IPL in Jaipur from August 19.

Key Points:

• RCA president Vaibhav Gehlot said that six teams will participate in the IPL starting in Jodhpur from August 19. For this, bidding for the purchase of the team will be started from August 1. The team will have to bid to buy.
• Vaibhav Gehlot said that big industry houses will bid for six teams - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Kota, Bhilwara and Udaipur.
• In these teams, seven international players and 10 IPL players will also be seen playing with Rajasthani players.
• All the matches will be of international level, which will be played in the stadiums of Jaipur and Jodhpur. There will be two matches in a day. One will be played in daylight and the other under lights. A total of 34 matches will be played, each match will be of 20 overs.
• Vaibhav Gehlot said that the IPL trophy is also of international standard, for which gold work has been done on the silver trophy.

Approval of Telecom Ease and Expansion Guidelines 2023

Why in News?

The Cabinet approved the 'Policy 2023 for Facilitating Establishment of Telecom Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh' and 'Guidelines for Facilitating Establishment of Telecom Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh' and 'Guidelines for Facilitating Establishment of Telecom Infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh' prepared in alignment with the Right of Way Rules, 2022 and Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Security) Rules, 2022 issued by the Government of India in the meeting of the Council of Ministers on August 1, 2023.

Key Points:

• With the implementation of the said policy, the telecom infrastructure (4G/5G) in Madhya Pradesh will expand quickly and smoothly and the income of the state government will increase.
• In order to ensure the planned development and expansion of telecom services and infrastructure in the state, 'Policy and Guidelines 2019 to facilitate the establishment of infrastructure for providing wireline or wireless-based voice and data access services by telecom services, internet services, infrastructure providers in Madhya Pradesh' is currently in force.
• The validity period of this policy is up to December 2023. At present, 5G telecom facilities have also been rolled out within the country.
• The Indian Right to Wire (ROW) (Amendment) Rules, 2022 have been issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications on August 17, 2022, with specific provisions for setting up telecom infrastructure and further strengthening of infrastructure related to 5G roll-out.
• The Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Security) Rules, 2022 have been issued by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India on January 3, 2023. These rules provide that if any person/agency undertakes excavation or mining at an existing telecom infrastructure site set up on public and private property, the general shall inform the concerned licensee through the portal. This will prevent unwanted damage to telecom infrastructure.

Art Training Fellowship to Youth - 2023

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, in a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Cabinet decided to give 'Art Training Fellowship-2023' to the youth.

Key Points:

• It is known that in order to promote traditional and tribal folk art, approval was given to provide an honorary fellowship of Rs 10,000 to 1,000 youth of the state for a period of 3 months through the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum.
• In this scheme, youth will be given training in singing, playing, dancing, drama, painting and craft etc. in 3 months.

Important decisions of Madhya Pradesh Council of Ministers

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, in the meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, several other important decisions were taken along with the approval to implement the assured career promotion scheme for the same cadres of all the departments of the state government.

Key Points:

• With the implementation of the Career Promotion Scheme, the government employees of the state will be able to get the fourth time scale pay scale from July 01, 2023, in case of 35 years or more of service.
• The Finance Department was authorized to issue guidelines for the fourth time scale pay scale. If this pay scale is approved, the estimated expenditure burden on the government will be Rs 250 crore.
• The Cabinet approved the establishment of 04 new Government Colleges, Government Law College Dindori, Government College Narayanganj Mandla, Government College Khirkiya Harda, and Government College Khaddi Sidhi.
• The Cabinet approved the creation of the new tehsil Shivpur in the district Narmadapuram and the new tehsil Madwas in Sidhi district.
• The Cabinet decided to amend the Madhya Pradesh MSME Industrial Land and Building Allotment and Management Rules 2021 (as amended October 2022) regarding the reservation of 20% land for SC and ST category entrepreneurs in developed industrial areas and 50 percent exemption in interest and development fees to these entrepreneurs.
• The Cabinet decided to set up 6 new government ITIs in the state.
• The Cabinet decided to exempt the already existing units of Mudra Yojana, which are being renewed after September 01, 2022, from the provision of having new enterprises in the scheme to be benefited if they are eligible under the Chief Minister's Enterprise Revolution Scheme.

A 10-day Training of Youth in MP Nipun Profession

Why in News?

On August 1, 2023, Rashmi Arun Shami, Principal Secretary, School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the training session of selected youth in the Madhya Pradesh Nipun Profession Program.

Key Points:

• It is worth mentioning that under the National Education Policy 2020, top priority has been given to all children up to class 3 to acquire basic literacy and numeracy by the year 2026-27. To achieve this goal, the Nipun India Mission is being run across the country by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• 'Mission Ankur' was started by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2021 to achieve the goals of the mission.
• Madhya Pradesh Skilled Professionals Program has been started by the State Education Center in collaboration with the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, for the effective implementation and supervision of 'Mission Ankur' at the field level.
• In this programme, one youth in each district has been entrusted with the responsibility of assisting the concerned district administration in the effective implementation of Mission Ankur.
• Thousands of youth applications were received to join this program, out of which 52 young and enthusiastic professionals have been selected.
• The selected youth programs will assist the district administration in data-based decision-making in implementation and monitoring, enhancing system capabilities and continuity of work on the ground. A 10-day orientation training for all the selected youth is being organized from August 1 to 10.
• The selected youth will play a vital role as NIPUN Professionals in providing meaningful education to around 23 lakh students of classes 1 to 3 in government schools across the state.

Graveyard Object of Mahabharata found from historic Karna Kot Mound

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on August 1, 2023, a Mahabharata period graveyard object has been found from the historical Karna Kot mound of Bhattu village of Bhuna, Fatehabad district of Haryana. Pottery and cups were carved from this object in that period.

Key Points:

• It is known that things of historical importance are being obtained from the Karnakot mound of the Mahabharata period in Haryana due to the flow of soil in the rainy season. Graveyard objects have been recovered from this mound during the recent rains.
• This stone is made of porcelain and even after a century this piece of stone is still safe. After the recent rains, when this piece of stone emerged from the soil, the researcher and safety engineer of this village, Ajay Kumar, kept it with him and informed the Archaeological Department.
• The remains that have been found are a circle of the material used for making pottery during the Mahabharata period, which is called the Graveyard. It is a porcelain-like material with excellent Luster and strength. Molds of utensils and cups were prepared from this graveyard during the Mahabharata period.
• Ajay Kumar, the researcher and safety engineer of this mound, said that this graveyard is wonderful in itself and is a reflection of the pottery-making method of the Mahabharata period, by which utensils were made.
• A terracotta bangle belonging to the Harappan civilization as well as fragments of an ivory bangle has been found from this mound. Apart from this, remains of ivory bangles have also been found here. Chess dice from the Harappan period have also been found here.
• It is worth mentioning that Bhattu village located in the Tohana constituency has preserved history in itself. Evidence from the Mahabharata period to the Anglo-Sikh war has been found here.
• This place has been witness to so many historical wars and the weapons used in these wars still come out from here every day, in which the remains of swords, cannonballs & horse riders are prominent.

Jharkhand Competitive Examination (Prevention and Redressal of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2023

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on August 1, 2023, the state government has prepared the 'Jharkhand Competitive Examination (Measures for Prevention and Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill 2003', which will be introduced in the assembly soon.

Key Points:

• The purpose of this bill is to prevent plagiarism in examinations. After becoming a law, this bill will be applicable in the entire state.
• This will be applicable to examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Recruitment Committees, examinations conducted by public undertakings of state government, besides examinations conducted by corporations and bodies.
• In this bill, apart from examinees, agencies involved in the process of examination, government employees leaking question papers or making public information that violates the confidentiality of the examination have been included in the category of punishable offenses.
• Apart from this, threatening the employees involved in examination duty, their family members or relatives and propagating false information and spreading rumours regarding the examination have also been kept in the category of crime.
• Provisions made regarding punishment-
• According to the provision made regarding punishment in the bill, if any examinee is caught cheating or causing it, he will be punished for three years, as well as a fine of up to five lakh rupees can be imposed on him. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional nine months' imprisonment.
• If the candidate is caught stealing or cheating for the second time, he will be sentenced to seven years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
• After filing a charge sheet against the candidate in court, he will not be allowed to appear in the examination for two to five years. If convicted by the court, the concerned candidate will not be able to appear in the competitive examination for 10 years.
• Breach of confidentiality of examination by any company or agency involved in the process of examination, leaking of the question paper shall be punishable with imprisonment of not less than 10 years and not more than life. Along with this, a fine ranging from one crore to two crore rupees will be imposed. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three years' imprisonment.

Deoghar Airport ranks 7th in terms of Giving Profits

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on August 1, 2023, Deoghar Airport is at 7th position in the list of top-19 profit-making airports in the country released by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Key Points:

• Deoghar Airport has set a record just one year after the start of the airline. Deoghar Airport made a profit of 28 crores during one year. In terms of profits, Deoghar Airport has left behind Ranchi, Patna, Durgapur and Darbhanga airports.
• It is known that a list of top-19 profit-making airports in the country was presented in response to a question asked by DMK MP SR Parthiban in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, General Vijay Kumar Singh.
• Deoghar Airport, operated by the Airport Authority of India, is at the seventh position in this list. Kolkata is in first place, Chennai in second place, Calicut in third place, Pune in fourth place, Goa in fifth place, Trichy in sixth place, Srinagar in eighth place, Juhu in ninth place and Coimbatore airport in 10th place.
• Ranchi, Patna, Durgapur & Darbhanga airports are not known far and wide in terms of giving profits. On the other hand, airports established in Agartala, Hyderabad, Dehradun, Vijayawada, Delhi Safdarjung, Tirupati, Bhopal, Vadodara, Varanasi and Imphal are in loss.
• Significantly, on July 12, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Deoghar Airport. During the year flights have started from Deoghar to Kolkata, Delhi, Ranchi and Patna. More than 70,000 passengers have travelled from Deoghar to different places, while Deoghar still does not have the facility of night landing. Despite the large number of passengers, many airlines are now inclined towards Deoghar Airport.
• Preparations are being made by the Airport Authority of India to start flights from Deoghar Airport to Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad as well. Passengers are being transported from Deoghar Airport including Deoghar to Bhagalpur, Dumka, Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda, Jamtara, Giridih, Koderma, Jamui and Banka.

MoU between Tata Technologies and the Department of Technical Education & Skill Development

Why in News?

According to the information received from the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on August 1, 2023, recently in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, an MoU was signed between the Technical Education and Skill Development Department & Tata Technologies for the modernization of 36 government ITIs of the state.

Key Points:

• Under the project worth about Rs 1188.36 crore, youth will be trained in 6 new trades and 23 short-term courses in 36 ITIs of the state.
• The establishment of state-of-the-art technical workshops, arrangement of trainers etc. will be done by Tata Technologies in selected ITIs of the state. Apart from this, Tata and its associate company will cooperate in providing placement to the youth of the state.
• Through this project, every year more than 10 thousand youth will get technical training according to the new era.
• One year of training in selected ITI to youth in Artisan Using Advanced Tools, Industry Robotics & Digital Manufacturing Technician, Manufacturing Process Control & Automation Trade and Advance CNC Machining, Basic Designer & Virtual Verifier (Mechanical) Mechanical, two years of training will be given in electric vehicle trade.
• Apart from this, training facilities will also be available for 23 short-term courses as per the requirement of the industries.
• Tata Technologies will set up state-of-the-art technical workshops in the selected ITIs and initially appoint two trainers in each ITI for training work. Tata and its associate companies will cooperate in providing placement to the trained youth.
• The ITIs that will be upgraded with the help of Tata Technologies Limited include Government ITIs- Baikunthpur, Odgi Wadrafnagar, Mainpat, Bagicha, Lormi, Koni-Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir, Akaltara, Hasaud, Raigarh, Kharsia, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Manpur, Chhuikhadan, Pandariya, Gunderdehi, Dallirajhara, Gurur, Durg, Patan, Dharsiwa, Hirapur, Arang, Abhanpur, Bhatapara, Simga, Bagbahra, Pithora, Kanker, Antagarh, Charama, Nagarnar and Dantewada are included.
• It is known that the Chhattisgarh government has started modernizing industrial training institutes so that youth can get training in modern trades with proper guidance. The state government is signing MoUs with big industrial institutes so that students can get good training.
• Along with this, students studying in higher secondary schools, who want to get vocational training, are being given 12th board certificates as well as ITI certificates.
• For the first time in the state, the students studying in schools have been provided with the facility of training in employment-oriented vocational courses along with school education according to their technical inclination at the school level. An integrated system has been developed by establishing coordination between schools and ITIs.
• Under this system, vocational training is being imparted to school students in most of the ITIs of the state. Under this system, where school students will be able to get their certificate after completing their studies, at the same time, after completing vocational training, they will also get an ITI certificate and will be ready to get employment.

Tehri's Shrutika selected for Commonwealth Youth Award

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on July 31, 2023, Tehri's Shrutika Silswal has been selected for the Commonwealth Youth Award. He has been selected out of a total of 50 youths from Commonwealth countries, which includes four Indians. He will be given this award in London in September.

Key Points:

• According to information, these awards are given to young people in Commonwealth countries who have done remarkable work in the field of social enterprise, environment, innovation and human rights.
• A total of 50 people, including four Indians, have been named in the list for the Commonwealth Youth Awards. These people, in the age group of 15 to 29 years, are involved in initiatives to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• India's Akshay Makar has been selected for SDG 13 Climate Change, Soumya Dabriwal for SDG 5 Gender Equality, Kaushal Shetty for SDG 11 Sustainable Cities & Communities and Shrutika Silswal for SDG 4 Quality Education.
• It is known that Shrutika Silswal is working with the Simple Foundation on the improvement of education in Tehri Garhwal. She is the Associate Director of the Foundation. This organization helps the children of government schools.
• Presently she is running her project in five schools. His dream is on qualitative improvement in government schools across the country. For this, he has created some projects, which make children emotionally strong.
• Originally a resident of Kakhilbheldar in Tehri, Shrutika has earlier received the 'Teacher for India' and 'Dalai Lama Fellowship'.
• Shrutika's father Vinod Silswal is a teacher at MIT College Dhalwala, while her mother Meenakshi is a teacher at GIC Nagani, Chamba.
• Shrutika is hurt by the exodus from the mountains for education after Covid and does not want anyone to leave their home & go to another city for primary education.
• Out of 50 youths selected for the Commonwealth Youth Awards, 20 will be selected as winners. These youth will attend the prize distribution ceremony in London on 14 September. Each winner will be awarded a trophy, certificate etc.
• Usually, 20 names are selected, from which five regional winners are chosen, but this year the names of 50 youths have been included to mark the completion of 50 years of the Commonwealth Youth Programme.