State PCS

• 10 Aug 2023

The 1st Riverfront of Banaras will be built at Garhwa Ghat

Why in News?

On August 9, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department Deputy Director R.K. Rawat said that there is a plan to build a riverfront in Banaras of the state on the lines of big metros. Preparations have been started, which will add another link to the chapter on tourism in Banaras.

Key Points:

• A riverfront will be built at Garhwa Ghat on the banks of the Ganga adjacent to the highway in Banaras. Like Namo Ghat, this ghat will also be decorated and made a big centre of tourism. This will take riverfront tourism to greater heights.
• The proposal for this scheme has been sent to the government by the Tourism Department. Garhwa Ghat will be converted into a riverfront at a cost of about Rs 9 crore.
• It is known that since the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the attraction of tourists has increased towards Varanasi. The number of tourists visiting the uninterrupted serene Ganga from the ghats and boating to other tourist places in the city is increasing day by day. In such a situation, the Tourism Department is developing this city further in terms of tourism.
• Food court, kids zone, parking, attractive tables and chairs, green gardens under the greenery, sheds, selfie points etc. will be available to tourists here.
• According to officials, Garhwa Ghat, located at one end of the city, will be the centre of attraction. Everyone will have easy access here. Tourists will also be able to come here easily through the inner path of the city and through the Ganges. Due to its proximity to the highway, people will be able to come here.

Bihar’s 6 teachers nominated for National Teacher Award 2023

Why in News?

According to the information received from the media on August 9, 2023, 6 teachers have been nominated/selected from Bihar for the National Teacher Award 2023.

Key Points:

• The teachers nominated by the state include Anil Kumar Singh, Head Teacher of Adarsh Balika 10+2 Higher Secondary School at Ramgarh in Kaimur district, Arjun Kumar Saha, a teacher of Utkramrit Middle School at Madhepura in Katihar district, and Dwijendra Kumar, Head Teacher of Middle School Madhuban at Bangahan Bazar in Sitamarhi district.
• Among these teachers nominated by the state, Anil Kumar Singh, Head Teacher of Adarsh Balika 10+2 Higher Secondary School, Ramgarh, Kaimur district, Arjun Kumar Saha, Teacher of Utkramrit Middle School, Madhepura, Katihar district, head teacher, Madhuban Middle School, Bangawan Bazar, Sitamarhi district. Teacher Dwijendra Kumar is included.
• Apart from these, Kumari Guddi, a teacher at Singhia 10+2 High School in Kishanganj district, Sangeeta Kumari, a teacher of 10+2 High School Malmal in Kaluahi of Madhubani district and Umesh Kumar Yadav, headmaster of Hariharpur Middle School in Vaishali district, are included.
• According to the information, 152 teachers from different states have been nominated from all over the country for the National Teacher Award. Out of these, probably 42 teachers are to be selected for the National Award.
• Six nominated teachers of Bihar answered the questions of the 4-member National Jury for the National Teacher Award 2023. The jury members found the nominated teachers to live up to the test of their objective questions.
• The teachers from Bihar also impressed the jury with their innovative ideas for the betterment of education. The teachers also gave their own presentations.

Incubation and Innovation Center to be set up at Govind Guru Tribal University, Banswara

Why in News?

On August 8, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved a financial proposal of Rs 6.89 crore for setting up an Incubation & Innovation centre at Govind Guru Tribal University in Banswara district of the state.

Key Points:

• With this decision of the Chief Minister, this Incubation & Innovation Center will be established to encourage the students and youth of the tribal area to increase the innovation skills. Also, the youth of the tribal area will get a boost in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The incubation centre will provide incubation space, lab, auditorium, tinkering lab, AR/VR setup with state-of-the-art infrastructure for entrepreneurs.
• The primary objective of this Incubation and Innovation Centre is to encourage and facilitate students to solve real-life problems using scientific theories and technologies learned through interaction with mentors.
• It is worth mentioning that an announcement in this regard was made by the Chief Minister in the budget for the year 2023-24.

Deputy Chief Minister Inaugurated Waste Treatment Plant in Sirsa

Why in News?

On August 6, 2023, Haryana's Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala inaugurated the Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) built at a cost of Rs 6 crore 20 lakh in the industrial area of Sirsa district of the state.

Key Points:

• On this occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that water waste treatment plants will be built in the industrial area in the state, taking a step towards this goal, starting from Sirsa.
• There are 171 plots in this industrial area of district Sirsa, in which about 115 units are working. It will be very beneficial for them.
• It is known that the Sirsa Industrial Area had been demanding for a long time to set up a CETP plant to treat industrial waste. Due to this waste, earlier the water level used to rise from 350 to 400 BOD, which has now come down to 10. Farmers can also use this water in their agriculture.
• Installation of CETP will not only help in environmental protection but also get rid of dirt and bad smell. After treatment, this water will be used for irrigation and the green belt of industry. Industries will also benefit from the construction of this type of plant.

Palamu Players won 11 Medals in National Gatka Competition

Why in News?

The National Gatka Competition was organized at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Guwahati, Assam from August 4 to August 6, 2023, in which players from Palamu district of Jharkhand brought laurels to the district by winning a total of 11 medals.

Key Points:

• A total of 110 Gatka players from Jharkhand participated in this national competition. Among these, the least number of players participated from Palamu and maximum from Dhanbad.
• 72 players from Dhanbad, 13 players from Palamu became part of the Jharkhand team, while 25 players from Bokaro participated.
• Palamu's Anamika Mehta, playing in the Under-11 age group, made a golden debut by winning the gold medal in the single Soti events, which she retained in the team event as well. Anamika gave a total of two gold medals to Jharkhand.
• Kajal Kumari also won a gold medal for Jharkhand in the Under 17 Fairy Soti event.
• Apart from these, Hrithik Raj Tiwari won a gold medal in Fairy Soti while playing Under-11. Agria Priyadarshini also won the gold medal in Team Fairy Soti.
• Rishu Raj Dangi, Shubham Singh and Aryan Pandey won the silver medal in Team Fairy Soti in Under-11 while Satwik Pandey won the bronze medal in Under-17 singles demo. Roshan Kumar also won a bronze medal in the Under-25 team.
• President of Palamu Gatka Association Sumit Barman said that players from 29 states of the country participated in this competition.
• Out of these, five best performing players will be selected for the 37th National Games organized by Khelo India and Indian Olympic Association.
• It is known that the Gatka game is one of the traditional games of the country, currently it is becoming a part of various sports competitions played in the country with new rules and formats.

CM released Coffee Table Book based on 15 caves of Kanger Ghati National Park

Why in News?

On August 9, 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel released a Coffee Table Book based on 15 caves of Kanger Valley National Park in a program organized on World Tribal Day in Bastar district of the state.

Key Points:

• Kanger Valley National Park is a unique treasure of biodiversity and natural heritage, which is known in the country and abroad for biodiversity, local tribal culture as well as limestone caves.
• The limestone caves found in the Kanger Valley make the national park unparalleled. In this sequence, a total of 15 caves have been discovered so far by the National Park with the help of experts from the local Geology Department, Field Amla and the local community.
• In this episode, this coffee table book has been prepared to tell tourists about the beauty and characteristics of these 15 caves located in the national park.
• National Park Director Dhammasheel Ganvir said that through this coffee table book, it will help in the promotion of the national park in the country and abroad and to protect the natural heritage of the national park.

Registration of Wellness, Yoga & Panchakarma centres mandatory in the state

Why in News?

On August 8, 2023, Uttarakhand's AYUSH Secretary Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that registration will now be mandatory for wellness, yoga and panchakarma centres operating in the state. For this, for the first time, the Department of AYUSH has prepared rules, in which standards have been fixed for the operation of the centres.

Key Points:

• In this, registration will be free for the first year. After this, a fee of Rs 200 will be charged for the renewal of registration.
• It is known that private AYUSH wellness, yoga and panchakarma centres are running in Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other districts of the state, but till now there is no record of these centres with the Ayurveda department. Also, the centres are running without standards.
• In view of this, for the first time a draft of the manual was prepared for wellness, yoga and panchakarma centres. The government has sent the proposal to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for approval. Soon after getting the approval of the Chief Minister, the rules will be implemented.
• Rating will be done on the basis of facilities of wellness, yoga and panchakarma centres in the rules.
• In this, the centres providing better facilities and meeting the standards will get five star rating. After this there will be four and three star ratings. Provision will be made in the AYUSH policy to encourage the centers with rating above three stars providing quality services.
• At present, more than 300 wellness, yoga and panchakarma centers are being operated through the Ayurveda department, but the department does not have the record of private centers running in the name of yoga and wellness therapy.
• The department estimates that there are more than 100 private yoga centers running in Rishikesh city itself.
• Work is being done to make Uttarakhand a hub of AYUSH wellness. Full care will be taken that people coming to the state for wellness and yoga get better facilities.