• 04 Aug 2023

Kashi's Priya Singh made world's Greatest record with her amazing painting of Shriram Temple

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on August 3, 2023, Priya Singh, a BFA final year student of Kashi, has made a world record by painting an amazing art of Shri Ram Temple. Priya has created a new record in the world by making this painting in 26 hours on the plyboard through 2,726 nails.

Key Points:

• Additional District Judge Rakesh Pandey inaugurated the painting at the BR Foundation premises in Pandeypur. Judge Rakesh Pandey said that in this painting, inspiring stories of Lord Shri Ram's life are hidden.
• The World's Greatest Record is one of the world's largest records. Priya Singh of Purandarpur village of the district has succeeded in achieving this. She learned the art of painting from painter Poonam Rai. With her inspiration, she has prepared a huge painting of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Governor launches 'Read the Constitution and Live' campaign

Why in News?

On August 2, 2023, the Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra started the 'Read the Constitution and Live' campaign of Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha at Raj Bhavan.

Key Points:

• Governor Kalraj Mishra also inaugurated the message 'Preamble of the Constitution and Basic Duties' printed in 2 lakh numbers by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha.
• He said that the intention behind the construction of the Constitution Garden in the Raj Bhavan has been to display the original copy of the Constitution and its clauses in a simple, easy way. He said that the original copy of the Constitution was prepared by Nandlal Bose, a renowned artist of Shantiniketan and his fellow artists. Late Kirpal Singh Shekhawat of Rajasthan also had a great contribution to this.
• Pandit Suresh Mishra of Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha said that the Constitution Awareness Fortnight is being celebrated to learn the objectives of the Constitution and to follow the basic duties. Under this, the Preamble and Fundamental Duties of the Constitution have been published along with the Governor's message in two lakh copies. It will be disseminated door-to-door as part of the 'Read the Constitution and Live' campaign.

The state tops in the whole country in 'Tarbandi Yojna'

Why in News?

On August 2, 2023, Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria told the assembly that the state is on top in the country in terms of benefiting farmers under the 'Tarbandi Yojana' to protect farmers' crops from stray cattle and other animals.

Key Points:

• Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria while answering the supplementary questions asked by the legislators in this regard during the Question Hour said that a total provision of Rs 444.40 crore has been made in the year 2023-24 for the purpose of benefiting the farmers under the fencing scheme.
• He said that till now more than Rs. 4 crore has been spent under the scheme. He assured that efforts will be made to fulfil the targets set after harvesting.
• He said that being impressed by this scheme, now the scheme is being started in Uttar Pradesh as well but at present, under the fencing scheme, the state is on top in the whole country in providing assistance from the state government to farmers for protection of their crops from animals by fencing around their fields.
• Earlier, in response to the original question of MLA Narendra Nagar, the Agriculture Minister said that from the year 2017-18 to the year 2022-23, a total of 69 crore 66 lakh 42 thousand rupees have been spent.
• Kataria said that in 3 years, 127 farmers have benefited under the wire fencing scheme in Khanpur assembly constituency. He placed the year-wise numerical details of the benefited farmers on the table of the House.

Subroto Cup Football: Gumla won the title in all the 3 categories

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on August 2, 2023, Gumla has won the title of all three sections of the divisional level 62nd Subroto Mukherjee Football Competition organized under the aegis of the School Education Literacy Department.

Key Points:

• St. Ignatius High School Gumla beat Bethany Convent Malamandri Ranchi by 11-10 in the tie-breaker in the final of the Boys Under-14 category played at Birsa Munda Football Stadium.
• In Girls Under-17 final, St. Piyush High School, Rampur, Gumla won the title by defeating Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Tanger, Simdega by 1-0.
• And in the under-17 boys category, St. Ignatius High School, Gumla registered a 1-0 win over Ramesh Singh Munda High School, Bundu, Ranchi.
• All the three winning teams will now represent South Chotanagpur in the state-level 62nd Pre-Subroto Mukherjee Football Competition 2023-24 to be held at Khelgaon, Hotwar from August 7 to 9.

Chhattisgarh's Blind Athlete Ishwari qualifies for Asian Para Athletics

Why in News?

According to the information received from Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on August 3, 2023, Kumari Ishwari Nishad has qualified for the Asian Para Athletics Games to be held in Hangzhou, China from October 22.

Key Points:

• Ishwari Nishad is the first blind athlete from Chhattisgarh to have won gold medals in consecutive National and International Para Athletics Championships. Seeing the sports talent of Ishwari Nishad, the Chhattisgarh government has also honoured her with state-level honour.
• It is known that Ishwari Nishad participated in the final selection Para Athletics Asian Games Trial held on July 25 and 26, 2023 at Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. She stood 1st in India and 5th in Asian rank in the 200m race. Also, she finished second in the 400 meters race and stood seventh in the Asian rankings.
• Miss Ishwari Fortune has been an alumnus of the Higher Secondary School for the Blind, Karmapatpar (Baghbahra). During this time she started participating in Para athletics games.

3 tunnels will be built on China border

Why in News?

On August 2, 2023, Uttarakhand Public Works Secretary Pankaj Pandey informed that the State Government has sent a proposal to the Central Government to link the two ITBP posts in two different valleys along the Indo-China border and to provide smooth transport to the people of the border areas.

Key Points:

• With this, the distance between Jolingkang in Pithoragarh and Lapthal in Chamoli will be reduced from 490 km to 42 km. For this, 3 tunnels of about 57 km and 20 km of road are proposed to be made. Now a decision has to be taken by the Central Government on this project of strategic importance.
• At present there is no such direct route in the India-China border, which directly connects ITBP post Jolingkang in Pithoragarh to ITBP post in Lapthal in Chamoli. The distance of 490 km can be reduced by constructing three tunnels of 57 km each at these two strategically important posts.
• It is also important from the point of view of people living in border areas, the army, SSB & ITBP and tourism.
• In its proposal sent to the Centre by the state government, the project has been described as important for the economic development of the state, promotion of tourism and to prevent migration along with maintaining human activities in the border areas.
• The 1st tunnel will be of five km:
  • The journey from Jaulingkang (Beas Valley) to Beadag (Darma Valley) in the Pithoragarh district is covered via the Shimla Pass, which is covered with snow almost throughout the year. It is very difficult to construct a road at this place.
  • The five-km tunnel between Jaulingkang will connect the route from Tawaghat to Bedang built by BRO and CPWD with a 20-km road from Vedang to Go and Sipu. It will reduce the distance between Jaulingkang and Bedang by 161 km.
• The 2nd tunnel will be 22 km long: It is also difficult to construct a motorway from Sipu to Tola, which is covered with snow throughout the year. With the construction of a tunnel of about 22 km in length between Sipu to Tola, Darma Valley and Johar Valley will be connected to each other.
• The 3rd tunnel will be 30 km long: The walkway from Milam in Pithoragarh to Lapthal in Chamoli is also covered with snow throughout the year. It is difficult to construct a road in this part also. With the construction of the 30 km tunnel from Milam to Lapthal, Johar Valley of Pithoragarh and Lapthal of Chamoli will be connected by road.

‘Chaurasi Kutiya’ to be developed as a Heritage Tourist Destination

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on August 3, 2023, Chaurasi Kutiya, a historical site located at Swargashram in Rishikesh, will be developed as a heritage tourist destination. For this, HCP Design Management Company will prepare the master plan.

Key Points:

• It is known that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Tapasthali Chaurasi Kutiya in Tirthanagari is associated with the memory of the world's famous international band group Beatles. Tourists from all over the world come to Chaurasi Kutia, but this place has not yet been developed in terms of tourism.
• Now the government has planned to develop it as International Heritage Tourism Destination. Since Chaurasi Kutiya is in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area, permission will also be taken from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• It is worth mentioning that in the year 1961, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had built Chaurasi Kutiya Ashram in 7.5 hectares of forest land in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area. He had taken the forest land on lease for about 40 years. During this, he had constructed 140 domed cottages and 84 small meditation yoga cottages and others in the ashram.
• In the year 1968, four members of England's famous Beatles group John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came to Chaurasi Kutiya to meditate. These people used to meditate in cottage number nine.
• He stayed here for about four months. In these four months, he composed the tune of 40 songs here, which foreigners still listen to with fascination. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi left this cottage in the year 1989 and went to Holland due to the expiry of the lease of forest land. In the year 2000, the forest department took over this ashram.