State PCS

• 08 Dec 2023

Madhya Pradesh receives 'Sanctuary Asia Award' for wildlife tourism

Why In News?

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has been awarded the ‘Sanctuary Asia Award’ for ‘The Best Sustainable Wildlife Tourism State’ at the Tough Tigers Wildlife Tourism Awards at a ceremony held in New Delhi on December 6, 2023.

Key Points:

• Madhya Pradesh has been awarded for its outstanding performance in Nature, Tourism, Industry, Sustainable Practices and Responsible Tourism in the Indian Subcontinent. Deputy Director Yuvraj Padole received this award on behalf of the Tourism Board.
• At the function, a short film based on various tourism destinations and products of the state was screened by Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Through audio-visual presentation, information based on various historical, natural, spiritual, folk and craft arts and wildlife tourism of Madhya Pradesh was shared. Madhya Pradesh, the heart of Incredible India, was portrayed as an attractive and ideal destination to visit.
• Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that Madhya Pradesh is the Tiger State of the country and tourists from all over the world come to the national parks here to see tigers. To increase the number of tourists in the state as well as to reduce the negative impact on the environment, various efforts are being made like eco-friendly homestays around forest areas, waste management, and creating awareness among tourists.
• It should be noted that Madhya Pradesh is a rich state from the point of view of wildlife. With 12 national parks and 24 wildlife sanctuaries, it is rich in natural resources such as various plants, animals and birds.
• Madhya Pradesh has the distinction of being the 'Tiger State of India' as it has the highest number of tigers in the country. There are currently 785 tigers in Madhya Pradesh. Along with this, the state also has the pride of 'Leopard State' and 'Gharial State'. With the arrival of cheetahs in Kuno National Park, the state has been recognized as 'Cheetah State'.

Now 697 gram panchayats of Uttarakhand will be directly connected to the PMO

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media on December 6, 2023, 697 gram panchayats of Uttarakhand will be able to connect directly with the Prime Minister's Office.

Key Points:

• For this, after being set up under BharatNet, UPCL is providing electricity connections. So far, connections have been given to more than 200 gram panchayats.
• Under the BharatNet scheme, optical fibre cables were laid to these villages, but due to lack of electricity connection, internet services were not available here.
• After internet services start running, the facility to apply for central and state government schemes will be available in the Gram Panchayat only.
• The youth will also get the opportunity to apply for government jobs and various schemes here.

Now permanent education numbers will be issued to school children in Uttarakhand like Aadhaar

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media on December 6, 2023, a permanent education number will be issued to school children in Uttarakhand like Aadhaar.

Key Points:

• Currently, children in class 9 and class 11 have to register in school.
• But, after the UDAYS portal is updated, a permanent education number will be issued to the child from class one itself, which will remain valid till class 12th.
• To ensure that wrong or fake TCs of children are not issued by any school in future, TCs will be issued to children only on the basis of Permanent Education Number (PEN).
• Data of not only children but also schools and teachers will have to be made available in the portal.
• After uploading the data of teachers in the portal, a teacher will be able to teach in only one school. Whereas, all the information related to the students will be uploaded by the school itself on this portal.

Chief Minister approves construction of 3.8 km long new road along with India's first elevated railway track in Rohtak

Why In News?

On 6^th December, 2023, Chief Minister Manohar Lal has accorded administrative approval of Rs 21.27 crore for construction of a new road along with an elevated railway track constructed at a cost of Rs 315 crore in Rohtak district.

Key Points:

• Giving information about this, a government spokesperson said that this ambitious project of 3790 metre length and 5.5 metre width will be completed in 9 months & will provide uninterrupted connectivity to the residents of Rohtak.
• More than 50,000 people will benefit from this new road starting from Chinyot Colony of Rohtak to Sector-6.
• It will connect various colonies including Gandhi Camp, Jhang Colony, Mansarovar Colony, Subhash Nagar, Kishanpura, Model Town, Laxmi Nagar, Kabir Colony, Vishal Nagar, Sector-5 and Sector-6.
• It may be noted that the 3.8 km long elevated track in Rohtak was India's first track, which was built by the Railway Ministry at a cost of Rs 315 crore, of which Rs 225 crore was given from the state's share.

Bihar's Abhay Kumar registered in Guinness World Records for the 3rd time

Why In News?

According to the information received from the media on December 6, 2023, Abhay Kumar, a resident of Ghazipur of Desari block in Vaishali district of Bihar, has got his name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records for the third time, breaking his own record.

Key Points:

• After the success of the record, Guinness World Records awarded a certificate to Abhay Kumar. Apart from this, he was also selected for Guinness World Record News.
• For this, by answering 19 calendar dates of 10 thousand years randomised by the computer in one minute, he broke the previous record of answering 16 calendar dates of 10 thousand years in one minute created by himself.
• Even before this, Abhay Kumar has created a record by identifying passports of different 91 countries in 1 minute.
• Abhay is imparting special techniques to the students to increase their memory power 'Smriti Sudhar' and to memorise the facts of the subjects in less time & for a longer period of time through App-Aspirant Jet & AspirantJet.com website from Class-5 onwards. Provide training to students preparing for various competitive exams.
• Abhay Kumar also participates in seminars on the invitation of schools and colleges. According to Abhay, their goal is to provide training in memory and learning techniques to more than 10 lakh people through all mediums by 2030.

Invitation to Uttar Pradesh in the World Economic Forum meeting

Why In News?

According to information received from the media on December 6, 2023, Uttar Pradesh has also been invited to the World Economic Forum meeting held from January 15 to 19 in Davos, Switzerland.

Key Points:

• According to the information, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has nominated a delegation to participate in the meeting to be held in Davos. The delegation includes Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Industrial Development & Export Promotion Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, besides Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh & Secretary to the Chief Minister Amit Singh.
• It is worth mentioning that when Yogi Adityanath goes to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum-2023 meeting, he will become the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to do so.
• The ministers and officials going to attend the conference will present the model of fast pace of economic & industrial development of the state in about six & a half years on the global platform.
• The delegation will give information about the new positive environment created for investment in Uttar Pradesh, so that investors from all over the world can be attracted towards Uttar Pradesh.

L. Khiangte becomes the new Chief Secretary of Jharkhand

Why In News?

According to information received from the Information and Public Relations Department of Jharkhand on December 7, 2023, L. Khiangte has taken charge as the new Chief Secretary of Jharkhand.

Key Points:

• L. Khiangte has become the 24th Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. Khiangte has replaced Sukhdev Singh. Sukhdev Singh has been made the Director General of Sri Krishna Institute of Public Administration.
• Khiangte is a 1988 batch Indian Administrative Service officer. Before this he held the post of Director General of Sri Krishna Institute of Public Administration.
• Khiangte will retire on October 31, 2024.