State PCS

• 09 Feb 2022

India's Documentary Feature 'Writing with Fire'

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, India's documentary feature 'Writing with Fire' has been nominated for the Oscar 2022.

Key Points

• 'Writing with Fire' is based on 'Khabar Lahariya' published from Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. The documentary is directed by Rintu Thomas and Sumit Ghosh.
• 'Khabar Lahariya' was the only newspaper in India, which was operated only by Dalit women. In the eight-page newspaper 'Khabar Lahariya', women reporters used to raise issues related to changing society, corruption, unfulfilled promises of the government, poor and women.
• The publication of this newspaper was started in Bundelkhandi language from 2002. However, it closed in 2015. Since then till now, Khabar Lahariya is operating on the mobile portal.
• It is noteworthy that for 'Khabar Lahariya', its founder NGO Nitar was awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Award 2009.

Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojna

Why in News

• After completion of training period under 'Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana' (RKVY) on 7th February, 2022, 16 qualified trainees at Signal & Telecommunication Training Center, Danapur (Bihar) were awarded certificates by Chief Signal Engineer of East Central Railway. Gone.

Key Points

• During this training the youth were given training in Diode, Transistor, IC, Power Supply, Soldering, Use and Repair of Multimeter, Transformer etc.
• It is noteworthy that for the skill development of the youth, the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana was launched by the Minister of Railways and Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India on September 17, 2021.
• 'Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana' is an integral part of Skill India Mission adopted by Indian Railways under 'Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana' as part of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence.
• Under the 'Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana', 100 hours of training is being imparted in 18 working days in 75 training centers.
• This scheme will improve the employability of youth and upgrade the skills of self-employed youth.

MoU to Develop 25 thousand Anganwadi Centers as Nand Ghar

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, an MoU was signed with Anil Agarwal Foundation of Vedanta Group to develop 25 thousand Anganwadi centers in the state as Nand Ghar.

Key Points

• On behalf of the state government, Principal Secretary Women and Child Development Shreya Guha and on behalf of Anil Agarwal Foundation, Nand Ghar Chief Executive Officer Ritu Jhingan signed the MoU.
• Under this MoU, Anil Agarwal Foundation will develop 25,000 Nand Ghars in the state by spending about Rs 750 crore (Rs 3 lakh per Anganwadi).
• The Chief Minister said that this would improve the infrastructure of these centers as well as provide quality education, nutrition and health services. This will also help in further reducing maternal and child mortality.
• He said that the State Government was continuously strengthening the maternal and child health services in the State. As a result of this, now about 95 percent of the deliveries have started being institutionalized.
• It is noteworthy that giving top priority to the health of women and girl child, the state government has started 'Udaan Yojana' for distribution of free sanitary napkins. Sanitary napkins are being provided to women and adolescent girls till village-Dhani through this scheme, started at a cost of about Rs.200 crore.
• Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh said that Anganwadi centers have an important role in terms of nutrition and health services for pregnant women, maternities and children. Developing these centers as Nand Ghar will help in the development of basic facilities in the Anganwadi centers of the state.
• Shreya Guha, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, said that there are about 62,000 Anganwadi centers operating in the state, in which 6 types of services are being provided.
• More than 1300 Anganwadi centers have been developed as Nand Ghar in 13 districts.

More than 3 Lakh Crore MoUs in the Field of Renewable Energy

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, MoU and LOI of 3 lakh 5 thousand crores were signed and exchanged between the Rajasthan State Government and investors in the field of renewable energy. With this investment, more than 90 thousand MW of renewable energy will be produced in the state.

Key Points

• MoUs and LOIs were signed with 5 PSUs and private sector companies of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation with a capacity of more than 90 GW worth Rs 3,05,000 thousand crore.
• These include MoUs and LOIs related to renewable energy of 10 GW from NTPC at a cost of 40 thousand crores, 10 GW to 10 GW from NHPC, Rs 50 thousand crores from Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam.
• On this occasion NHPC Director YK Choubey said that NHPC is already working on a 50 MW wind power project in Rajasthan. In the field of renewable energy, NHPC will invest Rs 20,000 crore to generate 10,000 MW capacity.

4 New City Councils Constituted by the State Government

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, Madhya Pradesh's Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh has informed that on the demand of the local people, four new city councils have been formed by the state government as per the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Key Points

• Nagar Parishad Bargawan (Amlai) has been constituted in Anuppur district, Sarai and Bargawan in Singrauli district and Karrapur Municipal Council in Sagar district.
• The boundary of the Nagar Palika Parishad of Sagar district, Gadhakota has been increased. In this, the non-urban areas of Gram Panchayat Magardha and Village Magadha, Village Bhaurdahar of Gram Panchayat Belai, Majhguwan, Village Ranguwan of Gram Panchayat Sanjra, Village Basari of Gram Panchayat Basari and Village Hinauta of Gram Panchayat Barkhera Gautam have been included.

Cabinet Approves Implementation of MMPSY SOP

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, in the cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal, revised approval was given for the implementation of 'Mukhya Mantri Parivar Samridhi Yojana' (MMPSY).

Key Points

• Under MMPSY, an amount of Rs.270.84 crore was released to 8,77,538 families during 2019-20 and 2020-21 on the basis of self-declaration as per the applications received on the MMPSY portal.
• According to the data received from the Citizen Resource Information Department, Rs 3,54,77,472 was distributed as reimbursement of premium to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana under MMPSY during the current financial year 2021-22.
• Under the scheme, CRID will provide verified data of those families whose family income is less than or equal to Rs 1.80 lakh per annum and who have Parivar Pehchan Patra Identification Number. Eligible beneficiaries will be identified from the data provided by CRID.
• Under the MMPSY scheme, eligible beneficiaries will be entitled to the benefits of five central schemes namely PMJJBY, PMSBY, PMKMY, PMSYMY and PMLVMY for an amount of Rs.6000 per family.
• The sum insured of Rs 6000 will be used to pay the premium of all the above schemes as per the eligibility of the beneficiary.
• At the time of joining any of the 5 central government schemes, the first installment of beneficiary contribution will be paid by the beneficiary himself, which will be reimbursed later by the state government.
• The subsequent premium due on account of continuation of the scheme will be paid by the State Government through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the accounts of the beneficiary or to the insurance company. Payment of pending dues/premium of eligible beneficiaries of three Maandhan schemes (PMKMY, PMSYMY and PMLVMY) will also be done under MMPSY from 1st April, 2020.

Excellent Performance of 16 Districts of Jharkhand in Atal Pension Yojana

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, LDMs of 16 districts of Jharkhand, who have performed better under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) of the Central Government, were felicitated in an outreach program organized through video conferencing in association with Pension Fund Regulatory, Development Authority and SLBC.

Key Points

• Jharkhand State was given a target of 1,95,220 enrollment for the financial year 2021-22 by PFRDA, against which the achievement was 2,18,516, which is 112 percent of the target.
• Apart from this, six banks – SBI (198 percent), BOI (147 percent), Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank (121 percent), Bank of Baroda (108 percent), Central Bank of India (104 percent) and South Indian Bank (140 percent) was also awarded for his exemplary performance in nominations under APY.
• It is noteworthy that the Atal Pension Yojana was launched in May 2015 with an aim to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, underprivileged and workers in the unorganized sector.
• Any citizen of India in the age group of 18-40 years can join this. The scheme provides a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining the age of 60 years.

Country's First Idea Lab Inaugurated

Why in News

• On February 8, 2022, Chhattisgarh's School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam inaugurated the country's first All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Idea Lab at Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Professional Management and Technology College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that many engineering colleges from all over the country had applied for the setting up of Idea Lab, out of which 49 colleges were selected. Out of these, AICTE has chosen Shankaracharya College, Raipur.
• Minister Dr Tekam said that the Idea Lab has been set up with the objective of making the students understand the basic principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and gain practical experience by using it. With the establishment of this lab, excellent facilities will be available to the students for research and innovation.
• This idea lab will play an important role in giving shape to the imagination and thinking of the students studying in technical institutions. This lab can be used by the students as well as the general public.
• Youth starting a new venture will be able to take full advantage of it. If any student has any technical idea, then they can come to this lab and make their dream come true and they can patent their idea. The products designed by him can be developed here. This will be a big step in the field of self-employment.
• Resource-rich laboratories and developed facilities can also be used by the students of remote areas, so that they can play their important role in all round development.
• It is noteworthy that under the Idea Lab scheme, grants are given in selected institutions of the country, from which institutions purchase state-of-the-art equipment. This does not cause any difficulty in the training of the students. Idea Lab helps students to develop innovation and startup ideas.
• The scheme has been designed keeping in mind the idea development, evaluation and applications under the National Education Policy-2020. This will develop skills like Imagination, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Design Thinking, Problem Solving and Collaboration in the students. This lab will be open for seven days and 24 hours.

Center Cuts by 45 Percent in Chhattisgarh's Fertilizer Demand

Why in News

• According to the information received from Chhattisgarh State Marketing Association on February 8, 2022, the central government has cut the demand quota of chemical fertilizers of the state by 45 percent. Against 7 lakh 50 thousand metric tonnes, the Center has given approval to supply only 4 lakh 11 thousand metric tonnes of fertilizers, due to which a situation of shortage of chemical fertilizers has been created in the state.

Key Points

• Due to non-supply of chemical fertilizers as per demand by the central government to the state of Chhattisgarh for the current Rabi season, farmers in the state are facing problems regarding chemical fertilizers. Despite this, fertilizers are being made available to the farmers of the state on the basis of availability of chemical fertilizers from the societies.
• A total of 7 lakh 50 thousand metric tonnes of chemical fertilizers have been demanded from the Government of India for the current Rabi season, but in today's situation, the state of Chhattisgarh has got only 3 lakh 20 thousand metric tonnes of fertilizers.
• The state of Chhattisgarh has so far received 1,17,522 metric tonnes of urea, which is only 34 percent of the state's demand. Similarly, the state of Chhattisgarh has got only 28 percent of the demand, potash 53 percent, NPK complex 43 percent.
• It is noteworthy that this year in the state of Chhattisgarh, the target of sowing various crops in 18 lakh 50 thousand hectares has been set in the Rabi season. So far 15 lakh 76 thousand hectares have been sown.
• Chhattisgarh government sent a demand for 7.50 lakh metric tonnes of chemical fertilizers to the central government, including urea 3.50 lakh metric tonnes, DAP 2 lakh metric tonnes, potash 50 thousand metric tonnes, NPK complex 75 thousand metric tonnes and super phosphate (ash) 75. 1000 Metric Tonnes, against which 4,11,000 Metric Tonnes have been approved by the Central Government, which is 55 percent of the demand of Chhattisgarh State. This is much less than the demand of the state.
• The state has received 93,214 MT of chemical fertilizers in the cooperative sector for the current Rabi season, which is 39 percent less than 1,52,027 MT received in the corresponding period of last year. Urea 31,500 MT has been obtained, which is 15 percent less than last year. The DAP has been received at 19,434 MT, which is 68 percent less than last year. Potash has been found at 4,191 MT, which is 74 percent less than last year's 15,847 MT. Similarly, there is less supply of NPK as compared to last year.

Intensive Mission Indradhanush 4.0 Launched in the State

Why in News

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 was launched in Chhattisgarh on February 7, 2022 with the aim of expediting routine immunization. At present, it has been started in five districts of the state – Bastar, Dhamtari, Durg, Kanker and Rajnandgaon.

Key Points

• Under Mission Indradhanush 4.0, run by the Health Department, a list has been prepared by health workers and mitanins in the above five districts, after home visits and marking the children who were left out of routine vaccination.
• Under the campaign, a target has been set to vaccinate 5 thousand 435 children from birth to 2 years and 2 thousand 604 pregnant mothers. Through this campaign, children who are deprived of routine vaccination will be vaccinated.
• Mission Director of National Health Mission Chhattisgarh, Dr. Priyanka Shukla said that this campaign will be conducted in the state in three phases, in which the first phase will be from 7 February to 13 February, the second phase from 07 March to 13 March and the third phase from 4 April to 10 April. Each phase will be of seven days.
• The campaign covers those pregnant mothers who have not been able to get Td 1, Td 2 and Booster Td vaccines due to some reason. Under the campaign, children from birth to 2 years who were left out of routine vaccination were given BCG, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hepatitis-B, Haemophilus, Influenza-B, Rotavirus, Pneumonia, Meningitis, Measles, Rubella, and Zapgene, Encephalitis vaccines are being administered.
• In the first phase, 2199 sessions will be organized in identified districts in the state, so that more than 5400 children up to 02 years and more than 2600 pregnant mothers will be vaccinated. All immunization sessions will be conducted at Anganwadi centers in the identified villages of the districts.