State PCS

• 09 May 2022

Petition regarding Taj Mahal dispute re-filed

Why In News

On May 7, 2022, a petition has been filed in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking to bring out the truth about the history of the Taj Mahal.

Key Point

• The petition also said that the 22 closed rooms of the Taj Mahal should be opened and checked as some people believe that it was the temple of Lord Shankar, which was demolished and made the Taj Mahal.
• It has also demanded that the laws enacted in 1951 and 1958, including the Taj Mahal, the Fort of Fatehpur Sikri and the Red Fort of Agra, be declared as historic buildings, should also be declared against constitutional provisions.
• This petition is filed by historian P.N. Oak's book 'Taj Mahal' has been filed on the basis of which the Taj Mahal is actually tejomahalaya, which was built by King Paramardidev in 1212 AD and was patronized by King Mansingh of Jaipur, but later the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan took it away from King Mansingh.
• It may be recalled that in the year 2015, a petition was also filed in the Agra Civil Court to declare the Taj Mahal as 'Lord Shri Agraswar Mahadev Nagnatheshwar Virajman Tejomahalaya', the basis of which was made of the inscription of King Paramardidev found in Bateshwar.
• However, in 2017, the Central Government and the Archaeological Survey of India had filed a counter-affidavit denying that there should be any temple or Shivlinga in the Taj Mahal or consider it as Tejomahalaya.

Bihar ranks second in cases of domestic violence against women

Why In News

In a report released by Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya recently related to the National Family Health Survey-5, Bihar ranks second only to Karnataka (48%) in cases of domestic violence against women, while Lakshadweep has the lowest domestic violence (2.1%).

Key Point

• The National Family Health Survey-5 report has found that nearly one-third of women in India have experienced physical or sexual violence, while domestic violence against women in the country has declined from 31.2% to 29.3%.
• Only 14% of the total women who have experienced physical or sexual violence have raised the issue.
• The experience of physical violence among women is more common in rural areas (32%) than in urban areas (24%).
• The survey also found that 32% of married women (18-49 years) have experienced physical, sexual or emotional marital violence. The most common type of marital violence is physical violence (28%), followed by emotional violence and sexual violence.

Rajasthan is the first in the country on various parameters of MNREGA

Why In News

On May 7, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said in a review meeting of the Rural Development Department that the state ranks first across the country in the approved labour budget in MGNREGA, the number of households who have completed 100 days, the creation of man-days and the National Mobile Monitoring System.

Key Point

• The labour rate under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme has increased rapidly in the state as compared to other States. The families who have completed 100 days under MGNREGA are being given additional 25 days of employment by the state government.
• At the same time, orders have also been issued by the state government to provide 100 days of additional employment to Saharia, Khairua, Kathauri and specially-abled people.
• In view of the scorching heat, arrangements have been made for MGNREGA workers for drinking water, shade, creche, medical kits, soap-sanitizers etc.
• Under the plan to develop infrastructure facilities on the lines of cities by preparing master plans for villages, the amount of Dang, Mewat and Magara Area Development Boards has been increased to Rs.25 crore.
• With convergence of MGNREGA and other schemes, construction of Mahatma Gandhi Vikas Path will be taken up in selected Gram Panchayats, in which villages with a population of more than 3,000 will be selected in the first phase.
• 50,000 farm pounds, diggy and tanks will be constructed in the state, which will provide irrigation to about 10,000 hectares of land. 1000 pastures will be prepared by the Wastelands and Pastures Development Board.
• An action plan has been prepared to set up 50,000 self-help groups in the state, which will benefit 5.50 lakh rural women.
• These Self Help Groups will be provided financial assistance through revolving fund and community investment fund and rs 600 crore will be provided as bank loan.
• The first branch of the Women's Co-operative Bank will be opened in Jaipur and more than 50 per cent of the women's mates are being employed by the Government under the MAT system in various schemes. In Bhilwara district, 100 per cent women's mats have been employed.

Ayush Health Fair launched in Paraswada

Why In News

On May 8, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel addressed the launch ceremony of the AYUSH Health Fair along with unveiling the statue of Rani Durgavati in Paraswada.

Key Point

• On the occasion, he also appreciated the performance of AYUSH Fairs and the students of Government Ayurveda College, Jabalpur, and also said that 21 universities of the state have been tasked with identifying the patients of Sickle cell and giving 5 villages each to the health check-up of the families there.
• At the same time, Minister of State Ramkishore Kanware said that through these AYUSH Health Fairs, employment will be provided by marketing forest medicines of tribal-dominated areas.
• He also said that the state government is providing pension facility to the families suffering from sickle cell in the state. Trikutu powder has been distributed to about 4 crore people to increase immunity among the public in the state. 362 wellness centres have been set up in the state. Arrangements have been made to provide employment to 1500 people by making them yoga instructors. At the same time, every member of each family is being tested and their health card is being made in the AYUSH village of the state.
• It is worth mentioning that Rani Durgavati was a Gond ruler who defeated Baj Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa. Rani Durgavati had attained veergati while fighting the Mughal army led by Asaf Khan.

Khelo India Youth Games 2021

Why In News

On May 7, 2022, the fourth season of the Khelo India Youth Games got off to a grand and grand start at The Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula.

Key Point

• The launch event was attended by the launch of the mascot, logo, jersey and theme song of khelo India Youth Games in the presence of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur.
• The 'Khelo India Youth Games, 2021' is being organized jointly by the State Government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from June 4 to June 13, 2022. The grand event will have 25 types of sports, including five traditional sports, namely, Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, Malkhamb and Yogasana. The games will be held at five venues- Panchkula, Ambala, Shahbad, Chandigarh and Delhi. More than 8,000 athletes will participate in the Khelo India Youth Games, 2021 .
• The Chief Minister informed that for organizing these Games, tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Hockey Astroturf, Volleyball Indoor Hall and Basketball Indoor Hall at Panchkula and indoor swimming pool of international standard at Ambala have been constructed, as well as synthetic athletics track, badminton hall etc.

Nizat Abhiyan

Why In News

Recently, the rescue campaign being carried out by the Chhattisgarh Police in Koriya and Rajnandgaon has been included in the best smart policing practices across the country.

Key Point

• The Nijat Abhiyan is an initiative of Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh under which action has been taken against the kochis involved in illegal sale of liquor, ganja and other drugs by the police team.
• Under this campaign, a massive awareness campaign is also being carried out among the people against drugs from city to village.
• It is worth mentioning that the Bureau of Police Research and Development has published a book on the best practices and innovations of smart policing across the country.

7% reduction in child stunting cases in Uttarakhand

Why In News

As per the national report of the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) released by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya recently, Uttarakhand has registered a significant reduction of 7% in stunting.

Key Point

• In the last four years, the level of stunting among children below the age of 5 years in India has come down from 38 to 36 per cent.
• More stunting was found in children in rural areas (37%) than in urban areas (30%) in 2019-21.
• According to the report, stunting among children has been found to be the lowest in Puducherry (20%) and the highest in Meghalaya (47%) .
• As per the report, a reduction of 7% has been recorded in stunting in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim , while Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Manipur have registered a decrease of 6% and Chandigarh and Bihar have registered a decrease of 5%.