• 05 Apr 2023

Banarasi Paan, Banarasi Langda Mango, Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal) and Chandauli's Adamchini Rice got GI Tag

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, GI expert Padmashri Dr. Rajinikanth said that Banarasi Paan, Banarasi Langda Mango, Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal) and Chandauli's Adamchini Rice along with other 7 products from Uttar Pradesh have got GI certificate.

Key Points

• Significantly, a GI tag i.e., Geographical Indication Tag is a type of label, in which the Special Geographical Identity is given to a product whose characteristic or name depends exclusively on nature and human factors.
• Religious and tourist city Kashi has emerged as a GI hub. Special Banarasi Langda Mango, Banarasi Paan, Ramnagar's Bhanta (White Big Round Brinjal) and Adamchini Rice (District Chandauli) have got the Geographical Indications and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) tag.
• The GI expert said that with the cooperation of NABARD and the Uttar Pradesh government, 11 products of the state have received GI tag this year, including 7 products included in ODOP (One District One Product) and 4 products related to agriculture and horticulture from Kashi region. Their total number has now increased to 45.
• 9 more products are expected to get GI tags by the end of this month.

8463 PACS of Bihar will be developed like CSC

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Cooperative Department of Bihar on 3 April 2023, all the 8463 PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society) in the state will now be developed as Common Service Centers (CSC).

Key Points

• According to the Cooperative Department, farmers of Bihar will now be able to get e-KYC done in PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society). This facility will be available in all the 8,463 PACS being computerized.
• With the development of PACS as Common Service Centers, more than 300 services will be available to the villagers. Farmers and other villagers will soon be able to avail themselves of facilities like banking, and PM Kisan e-KYC through PACS.
• E-governance is being promoted by the government to enable PACS to provide services provided by Common Service Centers. With this initiative, the PACS Common Service Center will be able to provide all the services listed on the digital service portal of the scheme to the citizens.
• In PACS, the target has been set to generate employment in rural areas through e-governance, so the government has decided to increase the scope of PACS, and more farmers will be added to PACS.
• Banking, Insurance Aadhaar, enrollment, updates, legal services, agricultural inputs such as agricultural equipment, PAN card and services related to IRCTC, rail, bus and air tickets will also be provided to citizens through PACS.
• Apart from this, PACS will also be able to run different activities including water distribution, storage, and Bank-Mitra. The business activities of PACS will increase and these will also help to become self-sustaining economic institutions.
• It is noteworthy that this is a historic step taken in the field of cooperatives. The Cooperative Department is already working to make the people and farmers of rural areas financially prosperous.

'Rajasthan Gaurav' felicitation ceremony

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra honoured talents from various fields with 'Rajasthan Gaurav' at 'The Rajasthan Gaurav' ceremony organized by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha at a private hotel.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that the 'Rajasthan Gaurav' honour ceremony has been organized by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha for the last 28 years.
• The Governor honoured with 'Pride of Rajasthan' to the Kargil war hero retired Colonel V.S. Balothia, Senior IAS Ajitabh Sharma, Rajeev Pachar of Indian Police Service, Ashu Singh Rathore of Indian Engineering Service, Nitin Kumar Jaiman of Indian Revenue Service, Superintendent of Sawai Mansingh Hospital Achal Sharma, Young Entrepreneur of Dubai Ankit Jain, Chairman of Shiv Vilas Resort Late Brijmohan Sharma, International Woodball player Ajay Singh, Maand singer Begum Batul, IT professional Sudeep, Businessmen Pratap Singh & Ravindra Pratap Singh, football player Ajay Singh Meena etc.

Hybrid Napier Grass in all Gram panchayats’ Exhibition of the state

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the proposal to organize an exhibition of hybrid Napier Grass (Perennial Fodder Crop) in all the gram panchayats of the state under the 'Rajasthan Seed Production and Distribution Mission' (RSPDM).

Key Points

• Under the Rajasthan Seed Production and Distribution Mission, the exhibition of hybrid Napier grass will be planted in 0.2-hectare land in each Gram panchayat, progressive farmers, Department's farm, Agricultural Training Center (ATC) and major Gaushalas. For this, Rs 23 crore will be spent on the 'Farmers Welfare Fund'.
• It is notable that the state government has taken many important decisions in the interest of the farmers to work with commitment for their all-around development and many innovations have taken place in the agriculture sector. An announcement in this regard was made by Ashok Gehlot in the budget of 2023-24.
• It is known that hybrid Napier grass is a perennial fodder crop. It can be grown in all types of climates and soil. It is a better animal feed option for farmers and cattle rearers.

Khelo India Women's Archery Ranking Competition launched

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, Sports Authority of India (SAI) Executive Director Lalita Sharma informed that the Khelo India Women's Archery Ranking Competition was inaugurated at Bahalgarh, the northern regional centre of SAI in Sonipat district of Haryana.

Key Points

• 96 women archers from across the country have participated in the Khelo India Women's Archery Ranking Competition and the winners will be given prizes up to Rs.5 lakh.
• It is noteworthy that the competition to be held on 3 and 4 April is jointly organized by the Sports Authority of India, the Archery Association of India and the Haryana Archery Association.
• Medal-winning players in the competition will be given prize money of Rs 37.5 lakh.
• For winning the gold medal in recurve senior in the competition, a reward of Rs 5 lakh, the silver medalist Rs 3 lakh and the bronze medalist Rs 2 lakh will be given. In juniors, the gold medalist will get Rs.3 lakh, silver medalist will get Rs.2 lakh and bronze medalist will get Rs.1 lakh and in cadet, the gold medalist will get Rs.1 lakh, the silver medalist will get Rs.80,000 and the bronze will get Rs.50,000.
• Apart from this, in the senior category of the compound category, the gold medalist will get a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, the silver medalist Rs 1.5 lakh and the bronze medalist Rs 1 lakh. Gold medalists in juniors will get Rs 1.5 lakh, silver medalists Rs 1 lakh and bronze medalists Rs 50,000 and in cadets Rs 50,000 for winning gold, Rs 40,000 for silver and Rs 25,000 for bronze.

Chang Village to be included in the Mahagram scheme

Why in News?

On 2 April 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal told during a public dialogue program at village Chang in the Bhiwani district of the state that Chang village would be included in the 'Mahagram Yojana'.

Key Points

• Under the 'Mahagram Yojana', sewerage treatment plants will be set up in all those villages of the state, whose population is more than ten thousand. Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) will be set up in villages whose population is less than 10,000 and more than 8,000.
• Under this scheme, a sewerage system will also be arranged in Chang Village.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister informed that the school building of Chang Village would be renovated in collaboration with Lord Swaraj Paul Foundation.

Rs 6.50 crore proposed for the development of 4 places including Anjandham

Why in News?

On 2 April 2023, Sushant Gaurav, Deputy Commissioner of Gumla district of Jharkhand said that the district administration has sent a proposal of Rs 6.50 crore to the government for the proper development of four ancient religious places of Gumla district - Tanginath Dham, Anjandham and tourist places - Gobarsilli and Navratnagarh.

Key Points

• It is known that in the past, work has been done on the ancient religious and tourist places of Gumla district by planning with government funds at the administrative level, but now the district administration is working by preparing a blueprint for development focusing on the development of religious and tourist places. For this purpose, the district administration prepared a blueprint for the proper development of four ancient religious places and tourist places in the Gumla district.
• Religious places Tanginath Dham of Dumri block, Anjandham of Sadar block and Gobarsilli of tourist place Palkot and Navratna Garh of Sisai block will be beautified by planning for the development of these places.
• Navratan Garh - It is in Sisai block and 32 km far from Gumla and 65 km from Ranchi. This is the heritage of the Nagvanshi kings. King Durjan Shah established Navratan Garh.
• Gobarsilli - is 25 km far from Palkot Gumla, 100 km from Ranchi and 55 km from Simdega district. This is a wonderful texture of nature; some people also call it Jhulta Pahad. People come from far and wide to see this mountain. This is a wonderful sight of balance.
• Anjandham - Anjandham is 21 km far from Gumla. A road has also been built to reach the main temple from the village. It is said that Lord Hanuman was born from the womb of Mother Anjani on the top of the mountain and dense forest of Anjan village.
• Tanginath Dham - It is 10 km from Dumri block, 75 km from Gumla city and 175 km from Ranchi. It is said to be built in the seventh and ninth centuries. This is a religious place, there is a trident here, which is buried in the ground, and does not rust.

Rubber Farming in Chhattisgarh on the lines of Kerala

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, an agreement has been signed between Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh and Rubber Research Institute, Kottayam (Kerala), under which Rubber Research Institute, Kottayam will do experimental cultivation of rubber in an area of one hectare in Bastar to explore the possibilities of rubber cultivation in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• A Memorandum of understanding was signed by the Director (Research) of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Vivek Kumar Tripathi and the Director (Research) of Rubber Research Institute Kottayam Dr. M.D. Jesse.
• According to this agreement, the Rubber Institute Agricultural Research Center in Bastar will provide plant material, manure-fertilizers, medicines and expenditure on labour to the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University for rubber cultivation in the one-hectare area in Bastar for a period of seven years. He will also provide necessary technical guidance for rubber cultivation and rubber extraction techniques.
• Plant management will be done by Indira Gandhi Agricultural University under the guidance of scientists from the Rubber Institute.
• Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Dr. Girish Chandel said that rubber is a highly profitable crop. In India, rubber cultivation has played an important role in making farmers prosperous in the southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu etc.
• He said that the scientists of Kottayam Rubber Research Institute have found the soil, climate, geo-ecology etc. of Chhattisgarh's Bastar region suitable for rubber cultivation and on an experimental basis rubber plants will be planted in one-hectare area. Farmers will be able to get more income from rubber cultivation here.

Angana Ma Shiksha' program received 'Scotch Award'

Why in News?

According to the information provided by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on 3 April 2023, the 'Angana Ma Shiksha' program started on the initiative of women teachers during the Covid lockdown in Chhattisgarh, India's highest civilian honour given by an independent organization for the year 2022 has been awarded the 'Scotch Award'.

Key Points

• Through this award, those projects are honored and make efforts to make the country a better nation.
• A core team of women teachers, represented from all the five divisions has been constituted for designing and implementing the program to take 'Angana Ma Shiksha' to every village of Chhattisgarh.
• For the last three years, these teachers have been trying to continuously improve this program by designing it. First, the 'Angana Ma Shiksha' fair is organized in every village. In this, local teachers, the community, Anganwadi workers and girls of higher classes are included.
• There are different counters in the fair where mothers get their children assessed and understand the process of teaching and learning at home. Mainly organizing activities like walking on a zig-zag line, colouring pictures, making various shapes from paper, classifying objects and arranging them in order, telling a story, describing a picture, counting, verbal addition and subtraction are done.
• By learning from the fair and orientation from time to time by the teachers, mothers start helping their children to learn at home.
• In this program, the mothers who are working better and doing activities are also honoured by giving them the title of 'smart mother' to get recognition in the village and to connect other mothers with this program.
• Smart mothers are also expected to activate other mothers by going to school and Anganwadi and take initiative towards improvement in children's education.
• Mothers also take a support card with them while taking their children to school for admission in the new session in which they assess the current status of the children's competencies and sign them themselves to inform them that they have achieved these competencies for their children, now co-operate in teaching ahead of it.
• Before the admission in the coming session, the next phase under this program in all the villages is being decided by the women teachers in collaboration with Pratham Education Foundation. This year, there is also a proposal for 'Angana Ma Shiksha' day and taking selfies of mothers with their children.

Outline of Uttarakhand Drone Promotion & Usage Policy-2023 gets presented

Why in News?

On 3 April 2023, the Director of Uttarakhand's Information Technology Development Agency, ITDA, Nitika Khandelwal said that American organization Mackenzie Global has presented the blueprint of Uttarakhand Drone Promotion and Usage Policy-2023 to promote drones in the state.

Key Points

• With the introduction of Uttarakhand Drone Promotion and Usage Policy-2023, 5000 youths will get employment through drone production and services in the state by the year 2030. A target of one thousand crore investment has been set in this sector.
• Under the Uttarakhand Drone Promotion and Usage Policy-2023, there will be an investment of Rs 500 crore in drone manufacturing and Rs 500 crore in services in this area.
• For the promotion of drones, the State Drone Coordination Cell (SDCC) will be constituted in the state under ITDA. Whereas ITI Kalsi and ITI Kashipur have been selected as centers of excellence for drones through private participation. Here DGCA has given permission to set up a Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO).
• Under this proposal of McKenzie Global, private institutions will be encouraged to run drone-related courses and training courses. Drone schools will be set up in government colleges and private universities certified by NAAC.
• It is noteworthy that the Information Technology Development Agency, ITDA, has released the draft drone policy on its website. Suggestions have been sought from the public and stakeholders on this. After taking public suggestions on this policy by ITDA, it will be finalized.