• 06 Oct 2023

‘Anand Sagar Smriti Kathakram Award’ to Story Writer Yogendra Ahuja

Why In News?

On October 4, 2023, in the meeting of Anand Sagar Smriti Kathakram Samman Committee, it was decided to give 'Anand Sagar Smriti Kathakram Samman' to story writer Yogendra Ahuja.

Key Points:

• Convener Shailendra Sagar, senior story writer Shivamurthy, theater personality Akhilesh and writer Rajni Gupta were present in the meeting.
• Under the Anand Sagar Smriti Kathakram Samman, 21 thousand rupees and a mark of honor will be given. The award will be presented at a ceremony on November 5.
• Born on December 1, 1969, in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, Yogendra Ahuja is a Hindi story writer of fiction. He was educated in Kashipur district of Uttarakhand and Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. Yogendra Ahuja's first story was published in the prestigious magazine Pahal in 1991. The author then wrote popular stories such as Murcia, Wrong, An Old Story, Food, Laffaz, Wrestling, Accurate, Pathology.
• Yogendra Ahuja's first story collection Laughter in the Dark was published in 2004. Recently, the book 'Broken Stars' Bottom Published has received Katha Award, Parivesh Samman, Vijay Varma Samman, Ramakant Smriti Award, Spandan Samman and Premchand Smriti Samman.

Patna is the Second Polluted City of the Country and Muzaffarpur is the Third Polluted City.

Why In News?

According to the report of Respirator Living Sciences released on October 4, 2023, Bihar's capital Patna is the second most polluted city in the country, while Muzaffarpur is at number three.

Key Points:

• According to the report, Patna is second with 97.7 micro/cubic meter, but last year it saw a 24 percent decline in air quality.
• It is worth noting that seven of these top 10 cities are in Delhi-NCR and Bihar, which are part of the Gangetic plain.
• According to Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, this analysis shows that the air quality of the Gangetic plain cities has improved in the last few years.
• However, given the heavy pollution, these cities continue to experience the highest PM levels in the country. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the reasons for the increase in pollution, so that corrective measures can be taken.

‘E-Journey of Chief Minister's Office, Rajasthan’ and ‘Quotes Shri Ashok Gehlot’ book Distributed

Why In News?

On October 4, 2023, the book 'E-Journey of Chief Minister's Office, Rajasthan' and 'Quotes Shri Ashok Gehlot' prepared by the Department of Information Technology and Communication of Rajasthan have been circulated, in which information about the development work done in the IT sector has been shown with photographs.

Key Points:

• Along with this, information about various schemes and major institutions launched by the department has also been shared.
• In the book 'Quotes Shri Ashok Gehlot', the vision of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been compiled in the form of 'Quotes'.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister's views have also been compiled about the Indian Constitution, democracy, youth, women empowerment, IT, farmers, Dalits, education, health, environment, humanity, art and culture.

State Gets 100 New First Response Vehicles

Why In News?

On October 5, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot flagged off 100 First Response Vehicles (FRVs) from the Chief Minister's residence in order to continuously work towards modernization of police to maintain law and order in the state.

Key Points:

• These vehicles will be included in the police fleet of various districts.
• All these vehicles have been equipped with modern Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), camera, NVR, wireless set, GPS public address system, first aid box, stretcher, helmet and other emergency equipment.
• The said vehicles will be connected to ERS dial 112 in the command control centers and their actual location can also be tracked.
• All calls made by the public on dial 112 in case of emergency will be forwarded to the nearest FRV, thereby providing them prompt assistance and also ensuring better prevention of crimes.

Asian Games: Sunil Malik wins Medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling after 13 Years

Why In News?

On October 4, 2023, wrestler Sunil Malik from village Dabarpur in Sonipat district of Haryana won a medal for the country in the Greco-Roman 87 kg weight category in the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China after 13 years.

Key Points:

• Sunil Malik defeated Kyrgyzstan's Atabek Azisbekov 2-1 to win his first medal at the Asian Games.
• The Indian wrestler started his campaign with the Round of 16 at the Asian Games 2023, where he defeated China's Fei Peng 4-3.
• He then registered a big 9-1 win over Tajikistan's Sukhrob Abdulkhev. However, the reigning Asian champion suffered a 5-1 defeat against Iran's Nasser Alizadeh.
• Gyanendra of Fatehpur village in Sonipat, who is representing the country in the competition, lost to the wrestler of Iran and Neeraj of village Juan lost to the wrestler of Uzbekistan.
• The bronze medal won by Sunil was India's first medal in Greco-Roman wrestling since Ravinder Singh and Sunil Kumar Rana won bronze in Guangzhou, China 13 years ago. After that, in the year 2014 and 2018, no medal could be won in Greco-Roman.
• Earlier, Sunil had won a gold medal in the Romania Cup in August this year and a bronze medal in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship held in Astana, Kazakhstan in April.
• Sunil Kumar had also won a gold medal at the 2020 Asian Championships in Delhi, ending India's 27-year wait.
• Sunil has also made the country proud by winning a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2018, a silver in the World Ranking Series in 2019 and a silver medal in the Senior Asian Championship in 2019.

Atom on Wheels Campaign

Why In News?

On October 5, 2023, RS Barwal, Project Director of the Corporation, launched the Atom on Wheels campaign under the Rural Integration Program run by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India from the Gorakhpur Haryana Atomic Project Plant located at village Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district of Haryana.

Key Points:

• It is known that various types of misconceptions are spread among the general public regarding nuclear energy. This nationwide campaign has been launched to remove these misconceptions.
• The main objective of the Atom on Wheels campaign is to remove the misconceptions of the common people regarding nuclear energy. For this, a bus named Atom on Wheels has been prepared, in which an exhibition has been set up to explain the production of nuclear energy and its benefits. This exhibition bus will go from village to village. There will be a three to four member team in the bus, which will also answer the questions of the villagers.
• Atom on Wheels campaign will be run in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The campaign will run for four months in each state, covering 60 to 70 villages every month.
• First of all, this bus will make people aware about nuclear energy in 240 villages of Fatehabad district for four months. The bus will be parked outside the Panchayat building, schools, medical centres, community centers of every village. After Haryana, the bus will be sent to Rajasthan.
• In the air-conditioned bus prepared by the corporation, information related to the production, consumption, characteristics of nuclear energy, plants running in the country and the use, effects and safety of nuclear energy has been displayed through exhibits and panels.
• Apart from this, LEDs and projectors have been installed on the outside of the bus, in which a lot of interesting information will be visible.
• According to corporation officials, construction of two units of 700-700 MW each is underway in the first phase at the plant located in village Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district. The work of the first unit will be completed by the year 2028.
• It is noteworthy that in the year 2014, the foundation stone of the nuclear project plant in village Gorakhpur was laid by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
• A total of 2800 MW electricity will be produced in this plant of completely indigenous technology. Four units of 700-700 MW will be built here. The entire work will be completed by the year 2036. Rs 50 thousand crore will be spent on the construction of this plant.

Global Investors Summit: Agreement on investment of Rs 19,385 crore in Delhi Road Show

Why In News?

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami signed an MoU for an investment proposal worth Rs 19,385 crore at a roadshow held in New Delhi for the Global Investors Summit on October 4, 2023.

Key Points:

• Under the MoU, JSW Energy will invest Rs 15,000 crore in setting up two pumped storage projects in Almora of 1500 MW capacity, which will be developed in the next five to six years.
• In Site-1 at Joskote village in Almora, the scheme is located at a lower dam-reservoir 8 to 10 km from the Kosi river. It is proposed at a distance of 10km.
• Apart from this, this upper reservoir in site-2 in Kurchon village of Almora is 16 km from the Kosi river. It is proposed at a distance of 10km.
• This scheme will provide drinking water supply to a large population and irrigation facility for agriculture. Also, 1000 people will get employment opportunities.
• Apart from this, Yatharth Hospital signed MoUs worth Rs 4385 crore in medicine, DS Group in food processing, Dixon Technology in electronic manufacturing, Radisson Group in hotels, Oberoi Group in resorts, SLMG in wellness and Communism, TWI, BSS in total MoUs worth Rs 4385 crore. This will provide employment opportunities to thousands of people in the state.
• It is known that in the road shows held in London, Birmingham, New Delhi, so far agreements worth Rs 40 thousand crore have been signed.
• The agreement with the investors in the road show shows the success of the Global Investors Summit. This will provide CSR support to the Manaskhand Temple Mala Mission for the development of pumped storage plants, cement, training center, drinking water, infrastructure development in ancient temples of Kumaon, and beautification in the state.

Devgudis and Matagudis of Bastar were Written Down

Why In News?

According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on October 5, 2023, as per the intention of the state government, the center of faith in the heritage of the tribals of the tribal-dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, Devgudis-Matagudis, is being developed by the Bastar Region Tribal Development Authority in the direction of preserving and promoting These Devgudis and Matagudi have been written down.

Key Points:

• It is known that many tribal communities have been living in the tribal dominated Bastar region of Chhattisgarh for centuries. These tribal communities have their own distinct cultural heritage. The center of faith in tribal heritage is Devgudis -Matagudis, which has its own importance in the tribal communities.
• Bastar Area Tribal Development Authority has taken a comprehensive initiative to renovate and beautify these Devgudis and Matagudi with the convergence of various items.
• Most of the tribal community groups are nature worshippers, they believe that their gods and goddesses reside in trees and plants and as a result of this belief, they are playing an important role in saving the forests. This is the reason why trees and plants are found in abundance at these places of worship.
• Fruitful and shady trees are being planted on a large scale in the premises of these temples. Along with this, by providing a Community Forest Rights Recognition Certificate of the said temples, the land has been registered in the revenue records in the name of the respective Gods and Goddesses for the purpose of preserving the land of Gotul and ancient deceased monuments including Devgudis and Matagudi.
• At the same time, community forest rights recognition letters have been issued in their names to these Devgudis-Matagudis and Gotul and ancient dead monuments, so that these cultural-social heritage complexes can be protected from illegal encroachment. Also, participation of the local tribal community can be ensured towards the conservation and promotion of these heritages.
• For the first time in the country, Chhattisgarh state and Bastar division is such a division of the country, which is committed to the conservation, promotion and preservation of Matagudi, Devgudi, Gotool, ancient deceased memorials, service-application sites etc., the centers of faith and living traditions of tribal communities. .
• Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2453 community forest rights letters have been provided to the Gram Sabha in the name of gods and goddesses. Of these, a total of 2607.20 hectares (6466 acres) of land for 7075 Matagudi, Devgudi, Gotool and ancient dead memorials have been preserved by making entries in the revenue records.
• In Bastar division, a total of 22884 Baiga, Sirha, Manjhi, Gunia, Gaita, Pujari, Bajnia, Atpahariya etc. are being registered under Rajiv Gandhi Landless Farmer Labor Justice Scheme and being provided Rs 7000 every year.
• A booklet named 'Purkhati Papers' (Part One) has been prepared by compiling the community forest rights forms issued to the area-wise tribal communities in Bastar by recording the prevalent beliefs in the oral traditions of the Gods and Goddesses. There is a compilation of Khasras preserved in 'Purakhti Papers' (Part-II), in which the revenue records have been preserved by mentioning the names and area of Mataguri, Devguri in the Kaifiat column of Khasra through Bhuiya.
• In the direction of conservation and promotion of faith and cultural heritage of Bastar region, approval has been given for renovation of 3244 out of 6283 Devgudis and Mataguri and till now the renovation work of 2320 Devgudi and Mataguri has been completed. Out of the approved 297 Gotul construction works, 200 works have been completed.
• Under Bastar division, out of total 7075 Devgudis and Mataguri including Gotul and ancient deceased monuments, 3619 Devgudi-Mataguri and Gotul and deceased monuments are located on revenue, non-forest land, private land and other items, due to which 898 hectares of land is protected.
• At the same time, about 1709 hectares of land has been protected by providing community forest rights recognition letters to all the remaining 3456 Devgudis-Matagudis and Ghotul and oriental dead memorials. About 6466 acres of revenue land has been preserved as Deva-Matagudi.
• Bastar Area Tribal Development Authority-
  • Bastar Area Tribal Development Authority was constituted by the state government on February 27, 2019. Its president and vice-president and local public representatives have been made members.
  • The main objective of the authority is to preserve, promote and protect the culture of the tribals in Bastar region, under this authority other works are being approved for the development of the area and rural economy.
  • Bastar, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Kanker, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma districts of the division are included under the authority.

Khelo MP Youth Games - Indore becomes Overall Champion in 2023

Why In News?

The first Khelo MP Youth Games-2023 concluded at TT Nagar Stadium, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on October 5, 2023, in which Indore district displayed excellent performance and received the overall championship trophy.

Key Points:

• Indore stood first with a total of 98 medals including 42 gold, 32 silver and 24 bronze. Jabalpur stood second with 24 gold, 27 silver and 35 bronze medals, a total of 86 medals. Bhopal secured the third position with a total of 77 medals with 24 gold, 27 silver and 35 bronze medals. Ujjain stood fourth with a total of 39 medals including 9 gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals.
• In Khelo MP Youth Games, team and individual sports players were awarded first prize of Rs 31,000, second prize of Rs 21,000 and players of third and fourth prize were awarded Rs 11,000. A total amount of Rs 2 crore was distributed as prizes in the MP Youth Games.
• It is noteworthy that after the success of Khelo India Youth Games held for the first time in Bhopal, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced that on the lines of 'Khelo India Youth Games', 'Khelo MP Youth Games' will also be organized in Madhya Pradesh. In this series, sports competitions were organized in different stages in the state from 12th to 28th September.
• Khelo MP Youth Games were organized in 313 development blocks of all 52 districts of the state.
• Youth Games were conducted at 4 stages, Block, District, Division and State level. Block-level selection competition was organized from 12 to 14 September, district-level competition from 16 to 18 September, division-level from 20 to 23 September and state-level sports competitions were organized from 1 to 5 October.
• At the state level, teams from 8 divisions of the state, Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, Ujjain and Shahdol participated.
• State-level competitions in 24 sports were held in 7 cities of the state, Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Ujjain, Rewa and Jabalpur.
• At the district and division level, 18 sports prevalent in the state are athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Malkhamb, Swimming, Weight-lifting, Wrestling, Table-Tennis, Yoga, Volleyball, Tennis and Chess were organized.
• Six sports like Taekwondo, Fencing, Rowing, Kayaking-Canoeing, Shooting and Archery were organized at the state level.
• State-level athletics, shooting competitions were held at Sports Complex Shivpuri. Boxing, Taekwondo, Judo, Fencing, Tennis, Football, Volleyball, Wrestling and Chess competitions were played at T.T. Nagar Stadium in Bhopal.
• Kayaking-canoeing and rowing in Bhopal's Badi Lake and swimming competitions in Prakash Taran Pushkar, Basketball and Weight-lifting competitions in Indore's Basketball complex and Table-Tennis competitions were held in Emerald Heights School.
• Badminton competitions were held at Madhya Pradesh Badminton Academy in Gwalior and hockey competitions at Madhya Pradesh Women's Hockey Academy Kampu, Gwalior, Malkhamb and Yogasan at Sports Complex Ujjain, Kho-Kho and Archery at Ranital Sports Complex, Jabalpur and Kabaddi competitions were played at Sports Complex Rewa.