• 04 Feb 2022

Policy of Premature Release in Life Imprisonment Cases

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, the Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider the policy of premature release of life imprisonment.

Key Points

• Doubts have been raised by the Supreme Court on the validity of the provision regarding the minimum age of 60 years for the premature release of prisoners in this policy of 2021.
• It may be noted that as per the 2021 policy, all convicts, who have completed 60 years of age and have spent 20 years in jail without any exemption and 25 years with exemption, can be released prematurely.
• Under this policy made by the State Government, the powers conferred under Article 161 of the Constitution have been exercised for the premature release of the convicts.
• According to Article 161, the Governor of a State has the power to pardon, suspend, suspend or remit the punishment of a person convicted of an offense.

Punaura Dham

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha that Punora Dham of Bihar has been included in the Ramayana circuit of the Swadesh Darshan scheme and in the Prasad scheme.

Key Points

• Maa Janaki Janmabhoomi Temple is located in Punaura Dham village of Sitamarhi district of Bihar, which is also known as Punaura Dham.
• It is worth mentioning that the PRASAD scheme was launched in the year 2014-15 with the objective of improving the facilities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centers of all religions.
• At the same time, Swadesh Darshan Scheme was started in the year 2014-15 for the theme based integrated development of tourist places like Ramayana Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Jain Circuit etc.
• In Bihar, development of Patna Sahib under Prasad scheme and development of Jain circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme, development of Kanwariya circuit, development of Gandhi circuit, Ramayana circuit and Buddhist circuit are included.

Center Approves Change of Names of Three Places of Madhya Pradesh

Why in News

• Recently, the Central Government has approved the proposal of the State Government to change the names of three places of Madhya Pradesh- Hoshangabad, Shivpuri and Babai.

Key Points

• The proposal to rename Hoshangabad as 'Narmadapuram', Shivpuri's 'Kundeshwar Dham' and Babai's 'Makhan Nagar' was sent by the Madhya Pradesh government to the Central Government in the year 2021, which has been accepted by the Central Government.
• It is noteworthy that for renaming railway stations, villages, towns and cities, it is mandatory for the state government to obtain NOC from the Union Home Ministry.
• Hoshangabad, located on the southern bank of the Narmada river, was named after the ruler of Malwa, Hoshangshah, while Babai is the birthplace of Makhanlal Chaturvedi, the eminent cinematographer of Indian poetry.

Preparations Started for Teaching Medical Course in Hindi in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, Madhya Pradesh's Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang informed that action has been started by the Medical Education Department for the implementation of the course of medical education in the state in Hindi.

Key Points

• It will be started from Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal in the course of the process of teaching medical courses in Hindi in medical colleges run under the Medical Education Department of the state.
• It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his message to the people of the state on Republic Day, had announced plans to conduct a medical education course in Hindi in the state.
• After completion of this action, Madhya Pradesh will be the first state in the country where the course and teaching of medical education will be in Hindi.
• In the first phase, Hindi language will be used more and more by the medical teachers while teaching the course of medical education. In addition, first year medical students will be studied and assessed. First, students from Hindi background will be assessed for reading and reading for 2 months through English medium and for 2 months using Hindi language.
• In the second phase, supplementary reference books of 3 subjects (Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry) of MBBS first year will be prepared in Hindi language. Three committees have been formed to complete this action plan.
• A committee has been constituted to prepare an action plan for the use of Hindi in medical courses and preparation of supplementary reference books in Hindi. Guidance of Atal Bihari Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will be obtained to give concrete shape to the action plan. This will ensure the implementation of this project.
• A sub-committee has been constituted to prepare supplementary reference books in Hindi for MBBS first year subjects Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
• A verification sub-committee has also been constituted to refine the subject prepared in Hindi by the second sub-committee again.

The Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University laid the foundation stone of 'Recirculating Aquaculture System'

Why in News

• On the 53^rd Foundation Day of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar on February 3, 2022, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor B.R. Kamboj laid the foundation stone of the recirculating aquaculture system. Through this technique, more production can be achieved in less area to promote fish farming in the country.

Key Points

• Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) is a technology that relies on the recirculation and reuse of water. With this farmers can produce more fish even in less land.
• In this system more fish production can be taken in less space in a rectangular or circular tank. Its specialty is that in this the water contaminated in fish farming is put in the biofilter tank, then it is filtered and sent back to the fish tank.
• On this occasion, Vice Chancellor Professor BR Kamboj stressed on increasing the income of farmers to implement more employment oriented schemes and to make natural farming more popular.
• A two-day book exhibition was also organized in the Nehru Library of the university on the foundation day of the university. Books on Agricultural Science, Allied Science, Home Science, Food Science and Technology, Nanotechnology, Agribusiness, Fisheries Science, Competitive and General Knowledge have been displayed in this exhibition.
• The main objective of this exhibition is to select books of the highest quality so that they can be easily available in the Nehru Library of the University.

Department of Mines and Geology signed MoU with International Forum for Environment Sustainability and Technology

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, the Department of Mines and Geology, Jharkhand signed an MoU with the International Forum for Environment Sustainability and Technology (IFOREST) to improve the functioning of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).

Key Points

• Under the MoU, IFOREST will provide information and training for the betterment of the District Mineral Foundation.
• It is worth mentioning that the state cabinet had given its consent for the MoU only on January 19 this year. The MoU is for two years, but it can be extended further with mutual understanding.
• The MoU was signed on behalf of the state government by Amit Kumar, Director of Mines and Chandra Bhushan, CEO, IFOREST, in the presence of Mines and Geology Secretary Pooja Singhal.
• As per the MoU, IFOREST will provide policy, planning and technical assistance to the DMFs for achieving qualitative and fruitful results in the work of DMFs.
• IFOREST will also support the Mines Department in socio-economic and environmental rehabilitation of the mining sector. This will benefit the local people there.

In the presence of MP Rahul Gandhi, landless laborers of Chhattisgarh laid the foundation stone of Gandhi 'Sevagram' and Chhattisgarh 'Amar Jawan Jyoti'

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, in the presence of former Congress National President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the foundation stone of 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' was laid in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country.

Key Points

• The workers who laid the foundation stone of 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' along with MP Rahul Gandhi are Ramkumar Nishad (Durg), Khuji Maurya (Bastar), Sona Netam (Balodabazar-Bhatapara) and Masius Tirkey (Balrampur-Ramanujganj).
• Rahul Gandhi launched the state government's ambitious 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' and 'Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club Scheme' in Raipur.
• On this occasion, Rahul Gandhi also released a coffee-table book 'Jo Kaha-So Kiya', published on the achievements of the Chhattisgarh government for three years.
• He transferred the amount of the first installment of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana to the account of landless families of Rs 3.55 lakh online. Along with this, the amount of Rajiv Yuva Mitan Yojana was transferred online in the account of the beneficiaries.
• 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will be constructed at 4th Battalion of Chhattisgarh Armed Forces, Mana Raipur.
• 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will become an effective medium to cherish the memories of the sacrifices of the brave sons of the country, to keep the spirit of respect and gratitude and patriotism alive in the hearts of the present generation as well as the future generations.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said in the context of 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' that this is the first example in the country of helping landless laborers.
• Through this scheme, the families of landless laborers, shepherds, barbers, washermen, priests, priests and pauni-pasari working in the fields will get an amount of six thousand rupees every year.
• The Chief Minister said that the 'Sevagram' to be built in Nava Raipur would be developed as a pilgrimage of modern India to understand, feel, learn and remember Gandhiji and Gandhism.
• Wardha's Sevagram Ashram has been an important milestone in Gandhi's thought, philosophy and center of Gandhism, similarly Nava Raipur Sevagram will become a Gandhian center of excellence.

Chhattisgarh Becomes 35th state/UT to Implement 'One Nation One Ration Card' Scheme

Why in News

• Recently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has approved the inclusion of Chhattisgarh in the existing group of portability states/UTs under 'One Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC). With this, Chhattisgarh has become the 35th state/UT to implement the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme.

Key Points

• It may be noted that the progress of the States/UTs towards the implementation of the ONORC scheme was reviewed by the Department. The department has approved the inclusion of Chhattisgarh after successful testing of portability transactions.
• Accordingly, ONORC scheme for nationwide portability of National Food Security Act (NFSA) ration cards has been implemented in Chhattisgarh from February 2, 2022.
• Under ONORC, migrant NFSA beneficiaries of Chhattisgarh will also now be able to purchase subsidized food grains at any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country.
• After the inclusion of Chhattisgarh, the ONORC scheme is being implemented in 35 states/UTs and is covering about 96.8 percent of the NFSA population of the country (about 77 crore NFSA beneficiaries).
• ONORC is a technology driven distribution system, which makes food security affordable across the country. This is very beneficial for migrant NFSA beneficiaries, who usually constantly change their place of residence in search of temporary employment etc. Migrant beneficiary family members, who have returned home, can purchase the rest of the ration without any difficulty.
• It provides an option to the beneficiaries to purchase their fixed quantity of food grains from any FPS of their choice anywhere in the country using their same/existing ration card.
• It may be mentioned that since the launch of the ONORC scheme in August, 2019, more than 56 crore portability transactions have been registered in the States/UTs under it. At the same time, 100 lakh metric tonnes of food grains worth Rs 31,000 crore have been distributed as food subsidy through inter-state and intra-state portability transactions.
• As a key indicator, on an average, around 2.5 crore portability transactions (including intra-state, intra-state and PM-GKAY foodgrain transactions) are being recorded per month across States/UTs under ONORC.