• 09 Aug 2021

Neeraj Chopra’s Gold Medal in Tokyo Olympics

Why in News

• On August 7, 2021, Neeraj Chopra of Haryana won the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Key Points

• Neeraj Chopra took the country's first Tokyo Olympics gold medal in the individual category and finished first in the table with a javelin throw of 87.58 m in his second attempt.
• Neeraj is a native village of 'Khandara' in Panipat district of Haryana.
• Neeraj has been serving in the Indian Army since 2016 and is currently serving as a Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles Unit.
• Neeraj Chopra was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2018.
• Neeraj has won India's 10^th Olympic gold medal, it is worth mentioning that 8 gold medals were won by the men's hockey team and 1 gold medal was won by shooter Abhinav Bindra (1^st individual gold medal).
• Gold medals in other events of Neeraj so far:
  1. 2018 Jakarta, Asian Games
  2. 2018 Gold Coast, Commonwealth Games
  3. 2017 Bhubaneswar, Asian Championships
  4. 2016 Guwahati/Shillong, South Asian Games

'GST Model-2' Launched in Haryana

Why in News

• Recently, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has inaugurated the new system of GST 'Model-2' for implementation of GST in Chandigarh.

Key Points

• With this initiative, along with increasing the tax accumulation in the state, it will also be easier for the traders to file GST returns.
• By changing the state's 'GST Model-1' to the new system of 'Model-2', the functioning of the department will now be more modern, faster and more efficient than before while providing better data quality.
• The Haryana Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017 was passed by the Haryana Legislative Assembly on May 4, 2017, which came into force on July 1, 2017.

Sword of Honor Award

Why in News

• Recently, Indian Police Service (IPS) RR-72 batch officer Ranjeeta Sharma has become the first Lady IPS officer to receive the IPS Association's 'Sword of Honor Award'.

Key Points

• The 'Sword of Honor Award' is given on the basis of 'Field Training'.
• During the training, Ranjeeta Sharma won 8 trophies out of a total of 50 trophies.
• Ranjeeta Sharma is a resident of village 'Dahina' in Rewari district and she is an IPS officer of the year 2019 batch.

MoU on Behavioural Science

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021, Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi and Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi entered into a collaboration in the field of teaching, training, research, joint projects, internship, FDP, guest lectures etc.

Key Points

• Under this agreement, the Center of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (CBCS), XISS and CIP will provide joint and collaborative research in the areas of behavioral science, cognitive science, public mental health, community mental health, besides providing Organize and develop projects and programs community and counseling services.
• Under this partnership, XISS and CIP will focus on harnessing the skills of budding graduates of the institute to advance technological advancement, innovation and enhance the competitiveness of industries.

Bastar Dussehra Begins with Pat Jatra

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021, the world famous 75-day Bastar Dussehra festival started with Pat Jatra Puja Vidhi in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• Like every year in Bastar, this year also Dussehra started with the first ritual of Patjatra on Hareli Amavasya.
• Patjatra Bastar is the first important ritual of Dussehra, in which the sal tree wood (Thurlu Khotla) brought from the Machakos forest is traditionally worshipped in front of the Danteshwari temple.
• The first wood of Bastar Dussehra occasion is called Thurlu Khotla and Tika Pata in the local dialect.
• According to the tradition of Bastar Dussehra, in the worship of Patjatra, the Majhi-Mukhiya reaches Sirhasar with the worship material on behalf of Bastar Maharaj and performs Patjatra and other worship rituals.
• It is noteworthy that Bastar Dussehra was started by King Purushottam Dev in 1408 AD. He dedicated the four wheels of the chariot to Lord Jagannath and remaining 12 wheels to Mother Danteshwari while dividing the chariot of sixteen wheels he got as a boon from Jagannath Puri.

First festival of Chhattisgarh: Hareli

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021 the first festival of Chhattisgarh region 'Hareli' was celebrated with gaiety.

Key Points

• Hareli festival is considered to be the first festival of Chhattisgarh, which is celebrated every year on Hareli Amavasya in the month of Sawan.
• This festival has a special significance for the farmers of Chhattisgarh. After the sowing of paddy, all agricultural and iron tools are worshiped by the farmers on the day of Hareli.
• On the day of Hareli festival, a special dish of this festival 'Cheela' is prepared in homes. Tools are worshiped by offering 'Cheela' in it, after which it is given to the members of the house as prasad.
• On the day of Hareli, men make a Gedi (made of bamboo) and climb on it. In some places, horse races are also organized.

Tilu Rauteli Awards

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021, the Uttarakhand government honored women and adolescent girls of the state with the 'Tilu Rauteli Samman'.

Key Points

• The annual award is given to women for their exemplary performances in their field of work in Uttarakhand.
  
  • It was started in 2006 under the name of Veerbala Tilu Rauteli.
• Under this award the state government gives an amount of Rs. 31,000 and a citation.
  
  • From 2022 the prize money for the award will be increased from Rs 31,000 to Rs 51,000.
• The winners of the award from different fields are-
  
  • Sports: Vandana Kataria (Haridwar), Ruchi Kalakoti (Bageshwar), Kanika Bhandari (Almora).
  • Social Work: Anuradha Walia (Dehradun), Uma Joshi (Udham Singh Nagar), Deepika Bohra and Chipika Chufal (Pithoragarh), Renu Gadkoti (Champawat).
  • COVID related work: Chandrakala Tiwari (Chamoli), Parvati Kirola (Nainital), Babita Punetha (Pithoragarh).
  • Self employment: Mamta Mehta (Bageshwar), Anjra Rawat (Pauri), Bhavna Sharma (Almora).
  • Education and women awareness: Dr. Rajkumar Bhandari Chauhan (Dehradun).
  • Education, Research & Development: Dr. Kanchan Negi (Dehradun).
  • Women's Health and Nutrition: Namita Gupta (Udham Singh Nagar).
  • NGO: Binduvasini (Udham Singh Nagar).
  • Mountaineering: Reena Rawat (Uttarkashi).
  • Girl's Education: Rekha Joshi (Pithoragarh).
  • Living in difficult conditions: पPoonam Doval (Tehri).
  • Women Self Help Groups: Shyama Devi (Dehradun).

Vandana Kataria

Why in News

• Vandana Kataria from Uttarakhand, who was a member of the Indian women's hockey team in the Tokyo Olympics, has been made the brand ambassador of the State's Women's Empowerment Department.

Key Points

• On the occasion of Tilu Rauteli Samman ceremony, State Women Empowerment Minister Rekha Arya appointed Vandana Kataria as the brand ambassador of the said department along with Tilu Rauteli Samman.
• Vandana Kataria is the first Indian female hockey player to score three goals in a single match.
• Vandana Kataria from Roshnabad (Haridwar), Uttarakhand, has been a part of the senior women's hockey team since 2006.
• The Uttarakhand government has announced to give her Tilu Rauteli Samman and Rs 25 lakh for her outstanding performance.