• 07 Nov 2022

Plan Ready to Make Uttar Pradesh One Trillion-Dollar Economy

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, the proposal to make the state a one trillion dollar economy was presented by the Uttar Pradesh government to the state's Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra, after which the proposal will be placed in the cabinet soon.

Key Points

• To make the state a one trillion dollar economy, the government will spend an amount of Rs 40 lakh crore by 2027, under which this amount will be spent on infrastructure, health, judicial system, education, heavy industries etc.
• According to the government, to achieve a one trillion-dollar economy, the annual growth rate will have to be increased from 30 to 35 percent and the investment of GSDP in the state will have to be increased from 43 to 47 percent every year. Apart from this, the target of manufacturing sector will have to be increased to 45 percent of the present, due to which more and more units will be set up in the state, along with employment will also increase and the economy of the state will be strengthened.
• To woo the investors in the state, a blueprint investment policy has been prepared. It emphasizes infrastructure, manufacturing, service and dividing the new economy into different phases. The infrastructure is divided into two parts, hard and soft. Hard infrastructure includes power and energy along with logistics, while soft infrastructure includes regulatory, judicial system, education, health. Apart from this, tourism, education and health have been included in the service.
• Under the soft infrastructure, the state government will have to spend about Rs 2.1 lakh crore between the year 2022 to 2027 for modern medical system in the entire state, in which 24 lakh bed hospital will be constructed. For this, about 4.35 lakh doctors and 17 lakh nurses will be recruited.
• Under the hard infrastructure, 1092 judges will be appointed in the subordinate courts. Apart from this, 90 new judges will be appointed to the High Court. Rs 13 lakh crore will be spent on electricity, Rs 25 lakh crore on roads and Rs 200 crore on judicial system in the state.

'Chess in School' Program

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, the Education Minister of Rajasthan, Dr. B. D. Kalla told during the inaugural function of chess competition under 66th district level school sports in Bikaner that 'Chess in School' program would start from the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (November 19) in more than 60 thousand government schools in the state and After this, chess will be played in schools on the third Saturday of every month during 'No Bag Day'.

Key Points

• Education Minister Dr. B. D. Kalla said that for the first time in the country, this initiative is going to be taken in Rajasthan, under which chess boards and other necessary materials will be purchased from sports grants in more than 60 thousand schools of the state and children will be proficient in chess.
• He said that for the first time chess has been included in school sports. After this, district and state level competitions of chess are being held, in which the children participating in it will bring glory to Rajasthan in the national and international events of chess in the coming time.
• Chairman of the Permanent Lok Adalat Mahesh Sharma said that 'Chess in School' will become the biggest medium in the country in promoting the game of chess. He also talked about organizing these competitions in the age group of ten and fourteen years.
• Competition coordinator Senuka Harsh informed that during the district level competition, children of age group of 17 and 19 years will participate in four categories. State level chess competition will also be held at Ramesh English School, Bikaner from November 14 to 18. Teams from 33 districts of the state will participate in this.

Delphic Council of Rajasthan Organized at Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK), Jaipur

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, Shreya Guha, President of the Delphic Council of Rajasthan, organized 'Mharo Rajasthan' at the art camp at Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK), Jaipur and inaugurated the stall in the exhibition.

Key Points

• Shreya Guha said that Rajasthan is the first province in the world, where regional councils were formed and registered. During Covid, it is being promoted online and now through offline invites, drama, dance, theatre, art and encouraging the youth. Sports will be organized for artists through regional councils and they will be given a global platform.
• Ramesh Prasanna, general secretary of the International Delphic Council, said that the Delphic Council of Rajasthan has been started with the aim of introducing the culture value at the regional level. On the lines of the theme and harmony of God Apollo, the Delphic Council has been started at the international level and its purpose is to maintain mutual brotherhood, culture and traditions and spread it to the world.
• Inns Lexchus of German Art School said that Rajasthan has provided an inspiration by organizing a series of events and on such platforms German artists will get a better opportunity to exchange and learn their art.
• In the program, students of German Art School interacted with Rajasthani artists and understood Rajasthani art and culture. He shared German art with artists of diverse arts of paintings.

BCLL gets Urban Mobility Award 2022

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, BCLL, formed by the Municipal Corporation, Bhopal for public transport in the city, was awarded the Urban Mobility Award 2022 in Kochi.

Key Points

• The corporation received this award for the category 'City with Most Innovative Finance Mechanism for Transport'.
• The award ceremony took place at Hotel Hyatt in Kochi, where Municipal Commissioner KVS Choudhary, Additional Commissioner CP Gohil and MIC member Manoj Rathore received the award. The award was given by State Housing and Urban Development Minister Kaushal Kishor.
• BCLL had innovated in August 2021 to promote private public participation, due to which 150 buses of the Union Territory 'Amrit Yojana' started operating on the grass-cast model. Tenders were invited to raise revenue for the said bus operation, due to which a separate agency was selected.
• This formula of BCLL has received appreciation across the country. Apart from the state, the central government has also appreciated this model.
• At present, 352 buses are being operated by BCLL on 20 routes, in which more than 1.5 lakh passengers travel daily.

Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh-2022

Why In News?

On November 4, 2022, Governor Mangubhai Patel launched the seven-day All India Kalidas Samaroh-2022 on Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi. The ceremony will be held from November 4, 2022 to November 10, 2022.

Key Points

• The function was inaugurated at Pt. Suryanarayan Vyas Sankul Auditorium of Kalidas Sanskrit Academy under the aegis of Vikram University and Kalidas Sanskrit Academy, Madhya Pradesh Sanskriti Parishad.
• In this ceremony, Padma Bhushan Budhaditya Mukherjee (Sitar playing), Padma Shri Dr. Puru Dadhich (Kathak dance), Vasudev Kamath (painting) and theater artist and famous actor Rajiv Varma were honored with the prestigious Rashtriya Kalidas Samman' of the state government. For the first time these four honors were given in Kalidas ceremony.
• On this occasion, the Governor inaugurated the exhibition of raghuvansham and the exhibition of coins put up by Ashwini Research Institute Mahidpur. The Governor inaugurated the Handloom and Handicraft Fair in the premises.
• Bhojpuri translation of books 'Durva' and 'Meghdoot' and brochure of Kalidas National Painting Exhibition were released by the guests present at the function.
• Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh is a seven-day event held every year in Ujjain city, familiar with Sanskrit litterateurs like Kalidasa, Vatsyayan, Bhartruhari and lauding Hindi writers like Shivmangal Singh Suman, Prabhakar Machhwa, Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh and Pandit Surya Narayan Vyas.
• A number of plays are staged during the Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh, which depict a wide range of social, political, cultural, etc. subjects. Apart from a few artists, many stalwarts also perform in Indian classical programs, whose journey in the musical field has just begun.
• It is known that the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad had inaugurated this function for the first time in 1958. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India had the distinction of inaugurating the second Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh in Ujjain.

Jaipal-Julius-Hannah Literary Award

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, a co-multilingual tribal-country poetry reading was organized in the Press Club auditorium, under which the first Jaipal-Julius-Hanna literature award was given to three tribal litterateurs.

Key Points

• The co-multilingual tribal-indigenous poetry reading was organized by Jharkhandi Bhasha Sahitya Sanskriti Akhara in association with UK based AHRC Research Network London, Tata Steel Foundation and Pyara Kerketta Foundation.
• First Jaipal-Julius-Hanna Literary Award for Tangsa tribal Ramon Longku (Kongkong-Phangfang) of Arunachal Pradesh, Bhil tribal Sunil Gaikwad (Children of dacoit Devsing Bhil) of Maharashtra and Uraon tribal poet Ujjwala Jyoti Tigga of Delhi for the unnamed warrior of the earth. posthumously).
• In the program of the event, Jan Muhammad Hakim, senior Gojri tribal litterateur of Jammu and Kashmir said that it is our duty to remember our ancestors and keep them in the pages of the date. Gojri language ranks third among the most spoken dialects in Jammu and Kashmir. It should be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Ramon Longku, a Tangsa tribal from Arunachal Pradesh, said he had the opportunity to learn a lot here. He sang the song 'Sailo Sailai Asailai Chai...' (Let's sing song) during agricultural work.
• Sunil Gaikwad, a Bhil tribal of Maharashtra, said that during the British era, the tribal revolutionaries in Maharashtra were called dacoits by the then system. 'Dakat Devsing Bhil Ke Bacche' is the story of his grandfather.
• Dr. Anuj Lugun said that tribal literature is expanding its cultural expression with organic and indigenous voice. The expression of tribal literature is not individual, but it is expressing the collective sentiments critically.

State Level Roller Skating Competition

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, Chhattisgarh's School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam rewarded the winners of the competition in the 15th state level roller skating competition program.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that the 15th state-level skating competition was organized from November 4 to 6 at Krishna Public School, Sarona, capital Raipur. More than 350 players participated in the event.
• The state-level competition was held for 120 medals in ring and road in various 6 age groups for boys and girls above 5 years to 17 years in inline and quad category.
• The event is recognized by the Roller Skating Sports Federation of India. Chhattisgarh's team will be selected from the winners of this competition. The selected team will represent Chhattisgarh in the 60thNational Roller Skating Championship 2022 to be held in Bengaluru from December 11 to 12, 2022.
• This year some competitions were organized in Tenacity and Toy Skates to promote roller skating sports, due to which 75 medals were distributed to the new budding players. For this, 4 age groups were created in inline and quad players from 3 to 5 years old and tenacity and toy skates.
• School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam said that it is a matter of pride for Chhattisgarh that among the CBSE schools of the country, only Krishna Public School, Sarona, has 200 meters band track for skating and has been the National Board of CBSE Board for five consecutive years. The competition is also being organized at the ground of Krishna Public School, Sarona.
• To promote skating in schools by the Government of Chhattisgarh, it has been included in school sports since last year. Efforts are on by the Chhattisgarh government to create a proper skating environment in various districts of the state, in which new skating grounds are proposed to be constructed in Durg, Bhilai, Raipur and Bilaspur.
• The Education Minister said that this year a national level open challenge speed roller skating competition of skating has been organized, in which 1500 players of the country participated.
• Dr. Tekam said that Chhattisgarh secured first position by getting gold medal in roller skating competition of national sport held at Ahmedabad this year. In this competition, Raipur's player Amitesh Mishra has been awarded this year's 'Gundadhur Samman' by the state government for his best performance in skating in the country. NH in skating competition Kumari Lavanya Jindal, a class VIII student of Goyal World School, won three gold medals in inline skating.
• Similarly, Kumari Hemika Jindal, a student of NH Goyal School Class 10, won gold medal in both singles and doubles categories in the under-16 age group of the National Pickleball Competition held in Indore from October 7 to 9.

'One State One Royalty' Policy of Mining

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, Principal Secretary of Uttarakhand Forest and Environment Department R.K. Sundhashu said that the 'One State, Forest Royalty' policy will be implemented in the state to bring uniformity in the royalty rates of mining, one of the major sources of income of the state. The Forest Development Corporation has prepared and submitted its proposal. A final decision is yet to be taken.

Key Points

• With the uniform implementation of the rates of royalty of mining, while the cases of illegal mining will be reduced, while the construction material being cheaper will provide relief to the people in building houses etc.
• In pursuance of the directions of the Supreme Court in the state, the sub-mineral (mining) in the reserved forest areas has been handed over to the Forest Development Corporation by the Forest Department and apart from this, mining is done under the supervision of the Mining Department in the rivers of the revenue area. At the same time, mining is also done on private leases after the permission of the government-administration.
• It is noteworthy that the rates of royalty in all three types of mining in the state are different. The rates of RBM in various rivers of reserved forest areas have been fixed at Rs 20 to 25 per quintal by the Forest Development Corporation. While in revenue and private mining leases, these rates are fixed at Rs 15 to 18.
• It is to be noted that 65 to 70 percent of the sub-minerals released in the state are collected from the rivers originating from the reserved forest areas and mining in the rivers located in the reserved forest areas is done according to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• According to the guideline, along with the rates of royalty, all the formalities like demarcation and security compensation, plantation, stamp duty, wildlife mitigation, labor welfare fund, Dharmakanta, computerized weighing, CCTV camera, operating expenses have to be completed, due to which the forest development corporation's royalty. The rates are higher than the revenue and private mining leases and now brainstorming is being done to reduce the cost of these expenses, so as to bring uniformity in mining royalties.
• Suggestions given by the Forest Development Corporation-
• The basic royalty of minerals originating from all sites across the state can be increased to Rs 7 per quintal.
• The contribution royalty in the District Mineral Trust can be increased to 15 percent.
• Contribution royalty in compensatory plantation can be increased to 10 per cent.
• The forest department's contribution to demarcation and protection can be Rs 0.25 per quintal.
• The Forest Development Corporation has agreed to reduce the operating expenses by Rs 0.25 per quintal.
• The forest department may consider reducing road fees by 25 percent.
• Principal Secretary RK Sundhashu said that the sale rates of sub-minerals are determined by adding items of revenue, items of forest department, items of Forest Development Corporation, GST and income tax. This is how the rates of the Forest Development Corporation go up with the fulfilment of the conditions of the Forest Act. All aspects of how to reduce these rates are being considered. A decision in this regard will be taken soon.
• Mining Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that in order to bring uniformity in the royalty of mining, continuous meetings are being held with the Forest Department at the government level, in which the revision of the rates of Forest Development Corporation from the Forest Department is being discussed. With uniformity in royalty, the common people will benefit from it and revenue is also expected to increase.

Uttarakhand Gaurav Award

Why In News?

On November 6, 2022, In-charge Secretary Secretariat Administration, Uttarakhand Vinod Kumar Suman informed that the state government has announced the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman Puraskar 2022. In this, five personalities have been selected for the award for outstanding contribution in five different fields. Three of them have been posthumously selected for the award.

Key Points

• Vinod Kumar Suman said that the Country's National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval, Film Censor Board of India Chairman Prasoon Joshi will be given this award.
• Former Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, poet, writer and lyricist. Girish Chandra Tiwari and late in the field of literature and journalism. Viren Dangwal has been posthumously selected for the award.
• According to the secretary-in-charge, the date, place and time of awarding the Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman will be released separately later.
• It is worth mentioning that last year for Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman, Dr. Anil Joshi in the field of environment, Bachendri Pal for adventure sports, Narendra Singh Negi, folk singer for culture, Ruskin Bond in the field of literature was announced. While former Chief Minister Late Narayan Dutt Tiwari was posthumously selected for this award, due to non-organisation of the program last year, these personalities will also be honoured this year.