• 02 Dec 2023

Rajgir Mahotsav started in Bihar

Why In News

Rajgir Mahotsav started in Bihar on November 30, 2023. It was inaugurated by Bihar Finance and Commerce Tax Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.

Key Points

• Rajgir Mahotsav is being organized at the State Guest House grounds between November 30 and December 2, 2023, courtesy the Tourism Department and District Administration Nalanda.
• On this occasion, Women's Mahotsav, Cuisine Fair, Book Fair, various sports competitions, dance competitions, street plays, stalls of various departments and departmental exhibitions will be organised.
• In the cultural programme, there will be Ganga dance drama of Bhagiratha by Magadha Kala Cultural Centre, singing program of Aishwarya Nigam and Deepali Sahay.
• On the occasion of this festival, a 7-day Gram Shrimela will be organized till December 6, 2023.
• It is known that Rajgir Mahotsav was started in the year 1986.

Haryana government approves 2 new police stations in Sonipat district

Why In News

On November 29, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has given administrative approval for the establishment of 2 new police stations at village Barota and Farmana in Sonipat district.

Key Points

• The Home Department has decided to set up the police station considering the geographical and demographic factors including total area and population, with an aim to enhance security for the residents of the area.
• Mahipur, Farmana, Nizampura Majra, Maujamnagar, Ridhau, Gorad, Bidhlana, Silana villages falling under Kharkhoda police station have been included in the new proposed Farmana police station.
• Similarly, villages Mandora, Mandauri, Halalpur, Turkpur, Jhinjhauli falling under Kharkhoda police station have been included in Barota police station.
• The new police station to be established in Barota will provide service to about 58,100 people, while the Farmana police station will be responsible for the security of about 77,951 people.

Six new fast track courts will be established in the state

Why In News

On November 29, 2023, it has been decided to set up 6 new fast track courts in various courts of the state to hear pending cases related to crimes against women, such as rape, molestation and mental harassment.

Key Points

• It has been decided to set up fast track courts in every district where more than 50 cases of the above mentioned categories are pending in the court.
• Two fast track courts will be established in Faridabad and one each in Gurugram, Panipat, Sonipat and Nuh districts of the state.
• Regular training programs and refresher courses are being conducted for women investigating officers in the Haryana Police Academy so that they not only remain updated about the new amendments in the legal provisions but also can investigate the cases in an effective and timely manner.
• The Scene of Crime team has provided investigation kits to the investigating officers in all the districts to collect necessary evidence from the crime scene in a scientific manner. This investigation kit is scientifically advanced, making the investigation process more fair.
• Women's Safety DIG Nazneen Bhasin said that DSP level officers have been appointed as nodal officers in every district of the state for monitoring crimes against women. More than 2 lakh CCTV cameras have been installed in the state for women's safety.
• According to the Criminal Law Amendment-2018, a provision has been made to complete the investigation of the case of rape of a girl below 12 years of age within a time period of 2 months. If found guilty in this case, there is a provision for maximum death penalty.

Jharkhand gets 23 medals including 5 gold in National Thang-Ta Championship

Why In News

Recently, in the 29^th Sub Junior and Senior National Championship held at Khelgaon Ranchi, players of Jharkhand Thang-Ta team won a total of 23 medals including 5 gold.

Key Points

• Rajkumar Kisku of Dhanbad won the gold medal in the senior category by defeating his rival Nilesh Yadav of Punjab in the 46 kg weight category.
• In women's 44 kg weight category, Poonam Kumari won the gold medal by defeating Kumari Bhateri of Haryana.
• For the state, 6 players including Sandeep Kumar Paswan, Anil Prasad Mahato, Julie Kumar, Akshita Pandit and Shiv Kumar Mahato won silver medals.
• For the state, 12 players including Usha Kumari, Anukalp Prasad, Naina Kumari Gupta, Manshi Keshari, Aniket Kumar, Nishant Kumar, Siddhant Shrestha, Unnati Priya, Priya Keshari won bronze medals.
• The host Jharkhand team finished fifth with 5 gold, 6 silver and 12 bronze medals.
• It is worth mentioning that Manipur won the title of overall champion, while Jammu & Kashmir team stood second and Assam team stood third.

Blind cricket tournament will be held in Indore

Why In News

On November 30, 2023, the Chairman of Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI - an organization that organizes cricket tournaments for the blind in India) Dr. Mahantesh & the General Secretary Shailendra Yadav said that a Blind Cricket Tournament will be organized in Indore from 8 to 11 December 2023.

Key Points

• The four-day tournament will be organized at the Index Medical College Ground, Indore under the joint aegis of CABI and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.
• Based on the tournament performance, the Cricket Association for the Blind in India will select players for the next Blind Indian men's cricket team.
• Amit Acharya, director of Ritmit Production, organizer of the tournament, said that the objective of this tournament is to provide a platform to zonal men's teams and to encourage the disabled people in the country towards sports and make them self-reliant.
• A total of 7 matches will be organized in the tournament, in which a total of 70 players and officials from 4 zones will participate. The teams will be called India Blue, India Red, India Orange and India Yellow.
• This tournament is very special not only for the disabled but for all Indians. These extraordinary players have made the country proud by winning the World Cup for the Blind in 2012 and 2014 and the T20 World Cup in 2017.

For the first time in the history of Kashi Vidyapeeth, the President will be the chief guest.

Why In News

In the meeting held in the auditorium of the Central Library on November 29, 2023, it was told that for the first time in the history of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, the President will be the chief guest of the convocation ceremony.

Key Points

• The 45^th convocation of the university will be held on December 11, 2023. Governor Anandi Ben Patel will preside over the convocation ceremony.
• Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth is a university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Earlier it was known only as Kashi Vidyapeeth, but later (on July 11, 1995) it was rededicated to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and his name was added to it.
• Kashi Vidyapeeth was established at Bhadaini, Varanasi by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta on 10 February 1921 (on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami) during the Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji had laid its foundation stone. Soon Kashi Vidyapeeth became the center of national education through Hindi medium.
• In July 1963, it was declared a deemed university by the University Grants Commission. It was given the status of Chartered University from January 15, 1975.
• Alumni of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth include-
• Chandrashekhar Azad, Indian freedom fighter
• Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India
• Ramakrishna Hegde, former Chief Minister of Karnataka
• B.V Keskar, former Union Minister of India
• Kalraj Mishra, former Governor of Rajasthan
• Bhola Paswan Shastri, former Chief Minister of Bihar
• Tribhuvan Narayan Singh, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
• Kamalapati Tripathi, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh