State PCS

• 05 Apr 2022

School Chalo Abhiyan

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the month-long 'School Chalo Abhiyan' in Shravasti, the district with the lowest literacy rate in the state.

Key Points

• Its objective is to ensure 100% enrollment in primary and upper primary schools.
• Under this campaign, priority will be given to districts with low literacy rate, which include Shravasti, Bahraich, Balrampur, Badaun and Rampur.
• The Chief Minister also directed the MLAs and Education Department officials to adopt one school each and work towards transformation of schools in terms of facilities like well equipped libraries, smart classrooms, provision of safe drinking water, toilets etc.
• Significantly, since the launch of Operation Kayakalp in 2017, schools in Uttar Pradesh have been revamped with provision of drinking water facility, furniture, construction of toilets, smart classes and improving the quality of mid-day meals in 1.34 lakh primary schools.

Bihar State Information Commission

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, Bihar Governor Faggu Chauhan administered the oath of office to Phool Chandra Choudhary and Tripurari Sharan as Information Commissioners of the state.

Key Points

• Bihar State Information Commission is a statutory body, established in June 2006 under Section 15 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
• It is worth mentioning that at present there are three posts of Information Commissioner in addition to the Chief Information Commissioner in the Bihar State Information Commission.
• The Chief Information Commissioner of the state is retired IAS officer Narendra Kumar Sinha.

RTI Portal 2.0

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, RTI Portal 2.0 was launched by the State Information Commission for speedy disposal of cases under Right to Information in the state.

Key Points

• State Chief Information Commissioner D.B. Gupta launched the RTI portal at the Information Commission office. Presently 275 departments are connected with the portal.
• Through this portal, people living in remote areas of the state will also be facilitated to file RTI appeals. Apart from this, the acceptance, disallowance, first hearing notice and case number of the second appeal filed online will also be available to the applicant in online mode.
• Citizens will be able to submit the application fee online as well as submit the application using the online portal or with the help of e-Mitra. Apart from this, notices and letters etc. of second appeal will also reach automatically through SMS and email. This will speed up disposal of cases.

Mobile Investigation Unit Van

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot flagged off the Mobile Investigation Unit (MIU) vans of Rajasthan Police from the Secretariat premises.

Key Points

• These MIU vans will be used in the police stations located away from the district headquarters. With the help of these, quick action can be taken in incidents happening at remote places and the time taken in research will also be reduced.
• State Director General of Police M.L. Lather said that with the availability of MIU, the investigating officers will reach the spot at a faster pace and with the help of gadgets, research can be done on the spot.
• With this, there will be no need to call witnesses and while the average time of investigation will be reduced, the quality of investigation will also improve.
• It is worth mentioning that under the Police Modernization Scheme 2021-22, about 71 MIU vans will be handed over to the police. Of these, 48 MIU have been received by the police so far.

'Madhya Pradesh Sushasan and Development Report- 2022'

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the first edition of 'Madhya Pradesh Sushasan and Development Report- 2022' at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Key Points

• The Madhya Pradesh Sushasan and Development Report- 2022 is a first of its kind document that brings out the unique governance practices of Madhya Pradesh, which include community engagement and participation, robust policy measures, efficient delivery systems, evidence-based decision making and comprehensive monitoring.
• This report has been prepared by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA), Bhopal, an autonomous body of the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
• Report includes several important initiatives taken by the state government such as- setting up of School of Good Governance and Policy Analysis, Madhya Pradesh Public Service Guarantee Act, 2010, self-reliant Madhya Pradesh Road Map, Samadhan Online, CM Helpline etc.
• There are a total of 12 chapters in the 'Madhya Pradesh Sushasan and Development Report-2022' (MPSDR), which are divided into five parts.
• In its first part, there are two chapters on good governance, in which the features of good governance in the state have been mentioned during 15 years.
• In the second part, there is a mention of the corona period and its effect. Along with this, the management of the epidemic and the changes and developments brought by it have also been discussed.
• In the first chapter of the third part of the report, it has been told that the state has been a leader in the agriculture sector as compared to other states of the country. The state is the second largest producer of food grains, third largest producer of horticultural crops and fifth largest producer of nutritive cereals.
• Industry and trade have been mentioned and analyzed in the third chapter itself. Emphasis has been laid on financial inclusion with special focus in tribal areas.
• The fifth chapter is on biodiversity and exploitation of traditional knowledge. It discusses the role of biodiversity and the importance of maintaining ecological balance.
• The AYUSH sector is discussed in the 6th chapter and urban development in the 7^th chapter.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told in the program that-
  
  • The growth rate of the state (19.7%) is the highest in the country. Madhya Pradesh is contributing 4.6 percent to the country's economy. Gross domestic product has increased by 200 percent in the last decade.
  • The generation of electricity was increased from 5 thousand MW to 21 thousand MW.
  • The generation of electricity was increased from 5 thousand MW to 21 thousand MW.
  • Madhya Pradesh, which has received Krishi Karman Award several times, has left behind Punjab and Haryana in wheat procurement.
  • An Export Promotion Council has also been formed in the state. Irrigation area benefitted by irrigation schemes in Madhya Pradesh has exceeded 43 lakh hectares.
  • Madhya Pradesh is the first state which enacted the Public Service Guarantee Act. People who do not provide services on time are punished.

Seed Processing Plant inaugurated at HAU

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, the Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Prof. BR Kamboj inaugurated the Seed Processing Plant and Control Room in the Farm Directorate of the University at a cost of Rs.84 lakh.

Key Points

• With the help of this new plant, the university will provide more and quality seeds to the farmers in less time.
• This seed processing plant is very modern and automatic, with a capacity of 40 quintal per hour. The already installed seed processing plant had a capacity of 20 quintal per hour.
• Due to this plant being equipped with a dust aspiration system, there is no dust and soil in the seed processing hall during seed processing and the people working on the plant are saved from fatal respiratory diseases.
• In this seed processing plant, mainly the seeds of crops like wheat, barley, mustard, gram, moong, guar, millet etc. will be prepared.
• This plant is certified by Haryana State Seed Certification Agency (HSSCA).
• Director of Research Dr. Jitram Sharma informed that Haryana Agricultural University is providing high quality seeds of various Rabi and Kharif crops to the farmers. About 10 thousand quintals of seeds are produced every year in the Directorate of Farms alone.

Sarhul Festival

Why in News?

On April 4, 2022, the biggest N’ature festival of tribal society 'Sarhul' was celebrated across Jharkhand.

Key Points

• An attractive procession was taken out from various Sarna places of the state capital, in which the procession taken out from the Sarna place at Hatma was prominent.
• In this procession, women and men of tribal society were dancing in full rhythm on the beat of mandar drum.
• It is worth mentioning that Sarhul is celebrated in Central-East India and tribal areas of Central India (mainly Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal).
• Held on the Tritiya of Chaitra Shukla Paksha, this festival is celebrated as the marriage festival of the earth and the sun.
• This festival marks the beginning of the new year. Trees and other elements of Nature are worshiped on this festival, at this time new flowers bloom on the branches of Sal (Shorea robusta) trees. This day is a state holiday in Jharkhand.

Chhattisgarh Tops in the Lowest Unemployment States in the Country

Why in News?

According to the latest figures of unemployment recently released by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy Organization, Chhattisgarh has topped the country with the lowest unemployment rate in the month of March.

Key Points

• According to the latest report, the unemployment rate in Chhattisgarh has reached the lowest level ever (0.6 percent). The unemployment rate in the country is 7.5%. The urban unemployment rate is 8.5 percent and the rural unemployment rate is 7.1 percent.
• According to the data released by CMIE as on April 2, 2022, the highest unemployment rate was in Haryana 26.7 percent, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir 25-25 percent, Jharkhand 14.5 percent, Bihar 14.4 percent, Tripura 14.1 percent and Himachal Pradesh was 12.1 percent.
• Chhattisgarh adopted a new model three years ago in line with Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'Gram Swaraj', while setting the goal of inclusive growth, with an emphasis on increasing economic connectivity between villages and cities.
• Under this model, Suraji Gaon Yojana, Narva-Garva-Ghurva-Bari program, Godhan Nyay Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumihin Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana, establishment of Rural Industrial Parks, Minor Forest Produce for economic empowerment of villages under this model. Schemes and programs like collection and value addition, entrepreneurship development are being implemented.
• New employment opportunities are being created in rural areas due to these schemes being run by the state government. These schemes are giving impetus to the development of the state, due to which the unemployment rate is continuously declining in the state.
• Even during the first and second wave of Corona, the economy of Chhattisgarh remained untouched by the nationwide economic slowdown, even then the unemployment rate in Chhattisgarh remained completely under control.
• Rozgar (Employment) Mission is being operated to create 12 to 15 lakh new employment opportunities in the coming 5 years in Chhattisgarh.

Three Fencing Players of the State Selected for Junior World Championship

Why in News?

Recently, for the Fencing Junior and Cadet World Championship, three players from Chhattisgarh - Sukham Ningthuba, K. Denny Singh and S.N. Shiva Magesh has been selected.

Key Points

• These three players from Chhattisgarh have been selected after getting medals in individual events in 29th Junior National Fencing Championship (Boys and Girls) held in Sonipat, Haryana from 25 to 28 December 2022.
• In the foil event of this championship, Sukham Ningthuba and K. Dani Singh won silver and bronze medals respectively while S.N. Shiva Magesh won the gold medal in the EP event.
• It is worth mentioning that the Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships (Boys and Girls) are being organized by United Arab Emirates Fencing Federation under the aegis of International Fencing Federation from April 2 to April 10, 2022 at Dubai Hamdan Sports Complex.
• A 47-member fencing team of Indian Junior and Cadet (Boys and Girls) Fencing Team is being sent by the Fencing Association of India in this championship.
• Sameer Khan, former General Secretary of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Fencing Association and presently member, has been appointed as Team Manager of Indian Junior and Cadet Fencing Team by Fencing Association of India.

Road Safety Committee to be Constituted in Every District of Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Road Safety Nodal Officer Sudhanshu Garg said that a road safety committee would be constituted in each district of the state under the chairmanship of DM.

Key Points

• These committees will be constituted as per the directions of the Road Safety Committee of the Supreme Court.
• In this, SP, CMO, XEN of PWD, representative of the ministry, project director of NHAI, EE of municipal corporation and representative of any social organization will be members, while officers of state highways will be member secretaries.
• This committee will prepare a road safety plan in every district, which will also include an emergency medical plan to deal with the situation of major accidents in the district.
• The meeting of this District Road Safety Committee will be held at least once in a month.
• Significantly, India is a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration, under which a target of reducing road accidents and fatalities by 50 percent till 2020 was fixed.