• 08 Nov 2023

Rs 3 crore each will be given on Shooting of Films in Uttarkhand

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has proposed to the producers-directors and artists of the film industry in Mumbai, that the Uttarakhand government will now give a grant of Three crore rupees for the shooting of Hindi film and web series in the state.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met producers-directors and artists of the film industry and discussed efforts to promote the film industry in Uttarakhand and invited the people of Mumbai to shoot in Uttarakhand.   
• In the press conference, CM Dhami said that the state government has now decided to give grants for the shooting of web series in addition to films to promote shooting in Uttarakhand.
• He said that the amount received by the films has been doubled. Now a subsidy of Rs 3 crore will be given for shooting Hindi films in the state, Rs 2 crore for shooting regional films and Rs 3 crore for shooting web series.
• So far, a grant of Rs 1.50 crore has been given for shooting Hindi films in Uttarakhand, Rs 25 lakh for regional language films and Rs 15 lakh for shooting regional language films of other states.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also announced that if anyone wants to open a studio for shooting in Uttarakhand, he will be given a grant of Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh for opening a theater and Rs 25 lakh for a post-production studio.
• Apart from introducing a single window system for shooting, he also informed that the production team coming for the shoot will be given a 50 percent discount for hotel stay and full security arrangements will be made during the shooting.

Durga Singh of Bihar won Gold Medal in Under - 18 Race

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, Bihar State Sports Authority Director General and Chief Executive Officer Ravindran Sankaran informed that Durga Singh of Gopalganj district of Bihar has won the gold medal in the Under-18 race competition in the ongoing 38th National Junior Athletics Championship 2023 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Key Points:

• The 38^th National Junior Athletics Championships 2023 will be held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu from November 7 to 9.
• Durga Singh has opened the medal account for Bihar by winning the gold medal in the 1500 meters race competition in the Under-18 age group.
• Durga Singh won the 1500 m race 4:38. He won the gold medal in 29 minutes.
• Durga achieved this feat under the training and guidance of international coach and physical expert Rakesh Singh.

Panchayat Development Index will be prepared for the Overall Development of Rural Areas

Why In News?

On November 6, 2023, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal announced in a meeting held in Chandigarh that the Panchayat Development Index will be prepared by the Development and Panchayat Department for the overall development of rural areas of the state.

Key Points:

• The Panchayat Development Index is being prepared for the rural areas of the state so that the goal of sustainable development can be easily achieved with all-round development plans.
• The Chief Secretary said that data will be collected for 57 services of 12 big departments, on which better development plans will be prepared.
• This Panchayat Development Index will be prepared keeping in mind the social, economic parameters and development status of the local community on the basis of the index.
• It will use a number of sectoral and sectoral indices, covering electricity, water, roads, sanitation, infrastructure, health and education services, institutions, economic and social indices including literacy and poverty rate, governance and governance, environmental sustainability.
• The development index will identify inequalities in rural communities, target sustainable development, achieve goals and formulate policies for their better lives.
• It will promote poverty-free and livelihood villages, healthy villages, child-friendly panchayats, adequate water, clean and green panchayats, self-reliant panchayats with infrastructure, social justice and safe panchayats, good governance and women-friendly panchayats.
• For this, state steering committees and district and block steering and verification committees have been formed. These committees will prepare quality data by grading the panchayats and will also plan and review it at the panchayat level.
• In this way, the data report card of every panchayat will be prepared. The data will be prepared at the panchayat level and uploaded on the Panchayat Development Index portal pdi.gov.in by December 31, 2023.
• The Chairman of the District Data Verification Team will be the Deputy Commissioner of the respective districts and the CEO of the District Council will be the Member Secretary. Apart from this, heads of 12 other district level departments have been made members, who will work on 577 local indices.
• Additional Chief Secretary of Development and Panchayat Department Anil Malik said that rehearsals have been done to collect data of panchayats of 10 villages in the state. Soon the data of all the panchayats will be collected.

Haryana Government Increased the Rate of Early Sugarcane Crop

Why In News?

6 On November 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, while giving a Diwali gift to the sugarcane producing farmers of the state, has announced an increase in the price of sugarcane for the early variety.

Key Points:

• The Chief Minister has said that for this year, the price of sugarcane for early variety is declared to be increased from Rs 372 per quintal to Rs 386 per quintal, which is a substantial increase of Rs 14.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister has also announced increase in the sugarcane rates for the next year. The code of conduct will be in place on the days when sugarcane rates are declared next year. Therefore, after consulting the department, the rate of sugarcane for the next year is declared at Rs 400 per quintal.
• The purpose of this decision taken by the government is to ensure that sugarcane farmers get fair prices for their hard work and dedication.
• The Chief Minister has encouraged sugarcane farmers by significantly increasing sugarcane rates and his move is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of sugarcane farmers and contribute to the prosperity of Haryana's agriculture sector.
• It should be noted that Haryana is the only state where 14 crops are purchased at MSP.

Reorganization of Haryana Traders Welfare Board

Why In News?

According to the notification issued by the Industries and Commerce Department of Haryana on November 6, 2023, the state government has reorganized the Haryana Traders Welfare Board, reiterating its commitment towards the welfare of traders.

Key Points:

• Its main objective is to solve the problems and issues of the traders, to act as a bridge between the traders and the state government, to ensure social security and insurance cover of the traders.
• Apart from this, its objective is also to increase investment and employment opportunities in the state, to analyze the terms and conditions of various departments related to traders and to give suggestions to the government for their equalization as well as to constitute a trader welfare fund.
• According to the notification, the board will have one person above 18 years of age as chairman and two people as vice chairmen.
• Apart from this, administrative secretaries of the departments of Finance, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Labour, Excise and Taxation, Industry and Commerce, Energy, Mining and Geology, Environment and Climate Change will be the members of the Board while an officer of Haryana Civil Service who will be the Secretary of the Board. Will also act as Member Secretary.
• According to the notification, the State Government can also nominate ten non-official members as members of the Board from time to time.
• The headquarters of the board will be at Chandigarh/Panchkula. If necessary, the Chairman can call a meeting anywhere in the state.

Eastern India's largest Butterfly Park Inaugurated in Ormanjhi

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, L. Khyangte, Additional Chief Secretary, Jharkhand Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, inaugurated the largest butterfly park of Eastern India at Lord Birsa Biological Park (Birsa Zoo) of Ormanjhi under the aegis of Jharkhand Zoo Authority, Ranchi. Is,

Key Points:

• On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary L. Khyangte also released a book related to the butterfly park.
• This butterfly park, newly constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore on 20 acres, has more than 80 species of butterflies. Zoo Authority Most of the species found in Jharkhand like Twin Coaster, Sergeant, Bush Brown, Baronet, Plain Tigers, Lemon Pansy, Common Sailor and others have been kept in the park.
• A favorable environment was created in the park so that butterflies could develop naturally. To protect them from birds and any other prey, a covered conservatory has also been built in an area of 900 square meters.
• Spread over an area of 104 hectares in Ormanjhi area of Ranchi, Lord Birsa Biological Park (Birsa Zoo) houses about 1,450 animals of 83 species of mammals, reptiles and birds.
• It may be noted that on June 29, 2017, the foundation stone of the butterfly park was laid by the then Chief Minister of Jharkhand and currently the Governor of Odisha, Raghuvar Das, at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park in Ormanjhi block of Ranchi.

AYUSH Department SIgns Agreement on investment Proposal of Rs 4,000 crore

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Secretary of Uttarakhand AYUSH Department, said that for the Global Investors Conference, the AYUSH Department has so far signed MoUs on investment proposals worth Rs. four thousand crores.

Key Points:

• Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that new investment in the AYUSH and wellness sector in Uttarakhand will provide employment opportunities to six thousand people in the coming time.
• The government has set a target of investing Rs 5,000 crore in the AYUSH and wellness sector. The AYUSH Department has signed an MoU on an investment proposal of Rs 4,000 crore against the target.
• In this, an agreement has been signed with Patanjali for investment of one thousand crore rupees. Patanjali will invest in promoting wellness, yoga and production of medicinal plants in the state.
• Apart from this, an MoU has been signed with Kumar Group for investment of Rs 1700 crore in wellness and yoga.
• Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that an investment of Rs 800 crore will be implemented before the Global Investors Conference. In the AYUSH policy, there is a provision of giving five percent additional incentive on investment in wellness and AYUSH sector.

Proposal to Convert Aligarh to Harigarh Passed in Municipal Corporation Board Meeting

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, Aligarh Mayor Prashant Singhal said that in the first board meeting of Aligarh Municipal Corporation, a proposal was made to convert Aligarh into Harigarh, which has been passed. This proposal will now be sent to the government for approval.

Key Points:

• In the first board meeting of Aligarh Municipal Corporation, BJP councilor Sanjay Pandit had proposed to change Aligarh to Harigarh, which was unanimously supported by all the councilors.
• It may be noted that on August 21, former Chief Minister In the Hindu Pride Day program organized on the death anniversary of Kalyan Singh, the Deputy CM had also talked about converting Aligarh into Harigarh. Earlier, the District Panchayat Board had also passed a proposal to convert Aligarh into Harigarh.
• It is noteworthy that names of many railway stations in the state have also been changed. During the Yogi government itself, the name of Mughalsarai Railway Station was changed to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction and Jhansi Railway Station was changed to Veerangana Laxmi Bai Railway Station.
• The names of cities have been changing in the country for decades. However, the process of changing the name is not that easy. To change the name of a city, a proposal was first passed from the Municipality/Municipal Corporation. Then it is sent to the state cabinet. After passing it in the state cabinet, the gazette of the new name is issued. After this the new name begins.
• It is noteworthy that Aligarh is an important business center of Uttar Pradesh and a major educational center of the country. There are more than 100 schools, colleges and educational institutions, including Aligarh Muslim University and Aligarh College of Engineering and Technology.
• Aligarh is famous all over the world for its lock industry. Aligarh locks are exported across the world. Apart from this, Aligarh is famous for its brass hardware and sculpture.

E-office System will be Implemented in Five Medical Institutions

Why In News?

On November 7, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, while issuing instructions to release funds for implementing the e-hospital system in five hospitals, said that to bring transparency, e-offices will be set up in five medical institutions of the state like a secretariat. The system will be implemented.

Key Points:

• Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that in the first phase, this system will be implemented in Sanjay Gandhi PGI, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, KGMU, Kalyan Singh Highly Specialized Cancer Institute and Government Medical College located in Kanpur.
• The executing agency UP Electronics Corporation has been directed to take action as soon as possible.
• Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that e-office is a digital workplace solution. Currently, it has been started from five hospitals in the state. If the experiment is successful, the system will be implemented in other medical institutions. This will promote accountable, effective and transparent functioning.
• Its purpose is to digitize all letters, documents and files of the office. From this It will be easy to search files and documents. Transparency in work will increase. There will be less chances of files going missing. Files can be searched in less time.

Cabinet Approves Proposal to Increase the Scope of Reservation in Bihar

Why In News?

In the cabinet meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on November 7, 2023, the proposal to increase the scope of reservation in the state was approved.

Key Points:

• In the meeting, it was agreed to increase the scope of reservation in the state to 75 percent. Now this Bihar Reservation Bill 2023 will be passed by the Legislature.
• In the bill passed by the Cabinet, the limit of 50 percent reservation has been increased to 65 percent. Also, economically backward people will continue to get 10 percent reservation. After this, the reservation limit will increase to 75 percent and instead of earlier 40 percent, now 25 percent seats will be for the general category.
• Extremely Backward Class (EBC) will get 25 percent reservation. Whereas Other Backward Classes (OBC) will get 18 percent reservation.
• A proposal to give 20 percent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SC) instead of 16 percent has been passed. At the same time, a proposal has been passed to give 2 percent reservation to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) instead of the 1 percent reservation they were already getting.
• Apart from this, in the Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet has approved the proposal of free sustainable livelihood earning scheme of Rs 2 lakh for self-employment to more than 94 lakh poor people.
• The cabinet also approved the proposal to now give Rs 1 lakh instead of Rs 60 thousand to landless families for purchasing land for PM Awas (Rural).