State PCS

• 08 Nov 2021

Uttar Pradesh Made Record in Direct Benefit Transfer

Why in News

• According to the state government under Direct Benefit Transfer, the state has created a new record by disbursing Rs 2.75 lakh crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under various welfare schemes in the last four and a half years.

Key Points

• An amount of Rs 2.75 lakh crore was sent through DBT to the accounts of the beneficiaries of 137 schemes of 27 departments by the state government, such as-
  
  • Money was sent directly to the accounts of lakhs of farmers, NREGA workers, workers from other states, women, elderly, disabled and pensioners during the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
  • The Uttar Pradesh government waived loans worth Rs 36,000 crore of 86 lakh small marginal farmers of the state and the amount was transferred through DBT.
  • Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, so far Rs 27,521 crore has been sent to the accounts of more than 2.54 crore farmers through DBT.
  • On November 6, 2021, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred Rs 1100 to the accounts of parents of school children to buy uniforms, sweaters, shoes and school bags for the purpose of providing school uniforms to the children on time. The scheme will benefit the students of primary, upper primary schools and non-government aided primary/pre-secondary schools.
• It may be mentioned that DBT is an initiative launched by the Government of India on January 1, 2013 as a way of reforming the government delivery system.

6th International Conference of Dharma-Dhamma

Why in News

• On November 7, 2021, the 6^th International Dharma-Dhamma Conference was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu at Nalanda University located in Rajgir, Nalanda district of Bihar.

Key Points

• This conference, which will run from November 7 to 9, 2021, is being organized by Nalanda University and India Foundation at Nalanda University.
• The theme of this conference is- 'Dharma-Dhamma Traditions in Building World Order after Covid Transition'.
• The purpose of this conference is to bring together religious, political and thought leaders from the Dharma-Dhamma traditions to consider building a philosophical framework for the emerging new world order.
• The Vice President said that 'Share and Care' is the core of Indian philosophy and India had become a Vishwa Guru for sharing knowledge, not for winning, but for sharing knowledge, in which the ancient Nalanda University had an important role.
• It may be noted that the first International Dharma-Dhamma Conference was organized on 22-23 September 2012 at Sanchi University (Madhya Pradesh). At the same time, the 5th conference was organized on 27-28 July, 2019 at Nalanda University, Rajgir.
• It is to be known that the ancient Nalanda University was established by the Gupta ruler Kumaragupta, which was destroyed by an invader named Bakhtiyar Khilji. Presently its ruins are located in Nalanda district.

Silver Medal in International Wrestling Event

Why in News

• Ms. Shivani, resident of village Umreth in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh has won silver medal in 50 kg weight category in the International Women's Wrestling Championship held in Republic of Serbia from 1^st to 7^th November, 2021.

Key Points

• In this championship, 30 players from India and only one player from Madhya Pradesh Shivani participated.
• Prior to this, he had won a gold medal in the National Senior Wrestling event held in Amethi in September.
• This Dangal girl from Madhya Pradesh, who made it to the Under 23 Championship, is training in Delhi.

Inauguration of Oxygen Generating Plant at AIIMS Bhopal

Why in News

• On November 7, 2021, Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang and AIIMS Bhopal President Prof. Dr. Y.K. Gupta inaugurated the PSA Plant (Oxygen Generating Plant) at AIIMS.

Key Points

• This plant has been set up with the help of Coal India under the CSR scheme. Oxygen generating plant produces oxygen from atmospheric air.
• The plant has a capacity of 1000 liters, which will supply oxygen to the trauma center and emergency block and 300 beds of patients will be benefited from it.
• This plant will reduce the dependence on liquid medical oxygen at AIIMS, Bhopal. Now AIIMS Bhopal will have all different modalities of oxygen resources like Oxygen Cylinder, Manifold, 30 KL Liquid Medical Tank and PSA Plant and more than 150 Oxygen Concentrators.

Virtual Dedication Flood Relief Residences

Why in News

• On November 6, 2021, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated more than 400 houses constructed under the Chief Minister's Flood Relief Housing Scheme in 40 villages of Budhni tehsil from village Somalwada and got virtual home entrance to the beneficiaries.

Key Points

• It may be mentioned that around 40 villages of Budhni were badly affected by the floods last year. In these villages 626 houses were sanctioned under Mukhyamantri Rahat Awas Yojna, out of which more than 400 houses were inaugurated and the beneficiaries were given home entry.
• Many villages virtually participated in the Griha Pravesh program held in Somalwada. 95 thousand rupees were given as Chief Minister relief for each house, 17 thousand rupees for construction of toilets and 90 days employment from MGNREGA.
• On the demand of the villagers, the Chief Minister announced construction of a mini Anganwadi and school building in Somalwada along with road and bridge connecting 6 villages from Nandmer to Somalwada.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that in order to link the products and skills of the village to the economy, along with training to the self-help groups of women, financial help would be provided from the bank and the market would also be made available by making clusters of the products.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister directed the District Collector to arrange loan and training from banks to women self-help groups in all other villages including Somalwada.

Solo Act Competition

Why in News

• A solo acting competition was organized in the mini auditorium of Jharkhand Film and Theater Academy (JFTA) on November 7, 2021.

Key Points

• In this competition, solo performance was presented by the artists on the theme 'Corona Ki Maar, Upar Se Petrol-Diesel Ka Vaar'.
• The winners were selected by the jury comprising filmmaker Purushottam Kumar and theater artist Ashok Gope.
• The winner of this competition was Nisha Gupta, while Ayush Sharma got second prize and Abhishek Rai got third prize. Naira Shagun and Shahbaz were given consolation prizes.

Jhiram Valley Inquiry Commission

Why in News

• The report of the Jhiram Valley Inquiry Commission was submitted to Governor Ms. Anusuiya Uikey on November 6, 2021. This report was submitted by the Secretary of the Commission and Registrar (Judicial) of Chhattisgarh High Court, Santosh Kumar Tiwari. Controversy has also started over the submission of the report to the Governor.

Key Points

• This commission was constituted under the chairmanship of former Chhattisgarh High Court judge Prashant Kumar Mishra. Mishra was also the Acting Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court and is currently the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
• This report has been prepared in 10 volumes and 4,184 pages.
• The Jhiram Ghati incident happened on May 25, 2013. The commission was constituted on 28 May 2013 to investigate this incident. The commission has submitted its report to the Governor after 8 years.
• Although controversy has started over the Commission of Inquiry giving the report directly to the Governor instead of the State Government, experts say that usually the Commission should have submitted the report to the Home Department, so that it can be presented in the House by the Government.
• The Congress objected to the manner in which the report was submitted, saying that whenever a judicial commission is constituted, the commission submits its report to the government.
• It is noteworthy that on May 25, 2013, Naxalites attacked the convoy of Parivartan Yatra of the then Congress in Jhiram Valley of Bastar. In this attack, about 32 other people including MLA and former state president Nandkumar Patel, former minister and leader of opposition Mahendra Karma were martyred. Former Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla was seriously injured in this incident, who later died during treatment.

Record Production at Hasdeo Bango Hydroelectric Power Station

Why in News

• On November 6, 2021, official sources of Chhattisgarh State Electricity Generation Company said that Hasdeo Bango Hydroelectric Power Station has set the record of producing a maximum 90.10 million units of electricity in the month of October.

Key Points

• This is the record for the highest ever production during a month. Power generation in October stood at 100.92 percent Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF). During this, 100% Plant Availability Factor (PAF) with zero tripping was achieved.
• It is noteworthy that before this, Hasdeo Bango Hydropower House had set a record of 87.743 million units of electricity generation in August 2020. The CUF during this period was 98.278 percent.
• Power Generation Companies Bango Hydroelectric Power Station has a total generation capacity of 120 MW. In this three units of 40-40 MW are functional.