• 10 Oct 2023

Workshop on 'Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development' Inaugurated in Pilibhit

Why In News?

On October 6, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a workshop on 'Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Tourism Development' on the occasion of 'Wildlife Week' in Pilibhit district.

Key Points:

• In the programme, the Chief Minister released 'Stork Census Report-2023', 'Lagga-Bagga Corridor Book' compiled by WWF India and Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the coffee table book of Tree Plantation Mass Campaign-2023. Also unveiled the selfie point and also planted trees.
• On this occasion, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 26 development projects of Pilibhit district at a cost of Rs 248 crore and 51 upgraded forest rest buildings at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
• The Chief Minister also released the 'logo' and 'screen' of the Terai Elephant Reserve.
• In the program, the Chief Minister launched the 'Bagh Mitra App' for the protection of tigers and honored the tiger friends doing excellent work by giving them citations. Harshit Sarkar and Nipun Vairagi were honored with a symbolic certificate of honey kit.

Five Players from Uttar Pradesh Selected for Sultan of Johor Cup Hockey Tournament

Why in the News?

On October 9, 2023, Hockey India announced the 20-member Indian junior men's hockey team for the Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament. Five players from Uttar Pradesh have been selected for this.

Key points

• It is noteworthy that the 11th Sultan of Johor Cup-2023 will be organized in Johor, Malaysia from 27 October to 4 November.
• In this competition considered as Mini World Cup, Aamir Ali of Lucknow, Uttam Singh and Arun Sahni of Sai Center Lucknow, Abdul Ahad of Jhansi and Vishnukant Singh of Lucknow Sports Hostel have been selected in the 20-member Indian team.
• Eight teams instead of six will take part in this 11th season of the Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament competition.
• The Sultan of Johor Cup is an international men's 21-team field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It was established in 2011. Between 2011 and 2022, India and Great Britain won the tournament three times, while Australia won the tournament twice, while Germany and Malaysia won the tournament once each.

Patna Legal Services Committee Reconstituted, Kishore Kunal and Sudha Varghese made members

Why In News?

On October 6, 2023, the Legal Services Committee was reconstituted under the chairmanship of Justice Vipul M. Pancholi of Patna High Court. Three non-ex officio members including Acharya Kishore Kunal have been appointed in this eight-member committee.

Key Points:

• Former IPS officer and Mahavir Mandir Trust secretary Acharya Kishore is among the three non-ex officio members nominated by the Chief Justice of Patna High Court. The other two members include social worker Sudha Varghese and retired district judge Om Prakash.
• There will be a total of three ex-officio members in the committee including the Advocate General. Two other ex-officio members include Patna High Court Advocate Association President Shailendra Kumar Singh and Patna High Court Bar Association President Sanjay Singh.
• The tenure of the members will be two years. The committee will have a total of 8 members including the Chairman and Member Secretary.
• The committee prepares a panel of advocates of the Patna High Court. The services of the advocates of this panel are provided free of cost to those needy who are unable to fight legal battles due to poverty.

Chief Minister Approved the Formation of 8 Boards

Why In News?

On October 7, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the formation of 8 different boards in the state.

Key Points:

• These newly formed boards include Rajasthan State Raja Bali Welfare Board, Rajasthan State Valmiki Welfare Board, Rajasthan State Meghwal Welfare Board, Rajasthan State Priest Welfare Board, Rajasthan State Kevat Welfare (Ma Puri Bai Keer) Board, Rajasthan State Jatav Welfare Board, Rajasthan State Dhanka Welfare Board and Rajasthan State Chitragupta Kayastha Welfare Board.
• All these boards will give suggestions to the state government regarding taking condition of the concerned sections, providing basic facilities to the sections on the basis of authentic survey reports and removing their backwardness.
• These boards are responsible for proposing various schemes for the welfare of the concerned class, coordinating with various departments regarding various schemes currently running for them, taking traditional business forward from the present methods, promoting employment and educational and economic upgradation.
• All these boards will have 5 non-government members including Chairman, Vice Chairman and three members and government members like Government Secretary, Commissioner, Director, Joint Director and Deputy Director level officers of various departments of the state.
• Apart from this, managing director level officers of Rajasthan State Scheduled Castes and Tribes Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Limited or Rajasthan State Other Backward Classes Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation Limited will be part of this initiative.

AI Based Chest X-ray Application Launched in Raj-Silicosis Portal

Why In News?

On October 6, 2023, Dr. Samit Sharma, Government Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment of Rajasthan said that Artificial Intelligence Tools/Application has been developed to make the silicosis identification and silicosis certification process more accessible, simple and technology based.

Key Points:

• Dr. Samit Sharma said that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based application has been developed on Raj Silicosis Portal, which can be used in the silicosis certification process on the new Silicosis Portal at District Pneumoconiosis Board level.
• It was inaugurated by Rajasthan's Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Tikaram Julie.
• Benefits of AI based applications:
  • The AI-enabled silicosis screening system is a testament to the government's progressive stance on using technology to accelerate delivery of medical care and economic support to the most vulnerable sections of society.
  • This application evaluates chest x-ray on parameters, based on deep learning. This will help radiologists to identify silicosis patients through chest x-ray and will help in reducing human errors.
  • Through this technology, the workload of radiologists will be reduced, and it will be easier to weed out those who are not suffering from silicosis from the applications received.
  • Rapid screening will enable prompt medical attention and reduce the burden on health care resources.
  • Early detection of the disease will allow timely intervention and treatment, potentially preventing disease progression.
• Artificial Intelligence:
  • Artificial Intelligence means intellectual ability, developed artificially.
  • Through this, a computer system or robotic system is created, which is tried to run on the basis of the same logic on which the human brain works.

How will AI based applications work?

• Artificial Intelligence Application is a screening tool, which will analyze the findings of Chest X-ray using technology and will help in decision making for silicosis certification.
• The core of this initiative is an advanced deep learning model, carefully developed and rigorously tested at every step using extensive datasets. For this, 40 thousand chest X-ray images obtained from across the state have been used. This effort is supported by the technical expertise of Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
• Radiologists and silicosis certificate issuing officers will be able to take the same decisions as before for certification as per their clinical judgment.
• Rajasthan Pneumoconiosis Policy-2019
  • Pneumoconiosis Policy-2019 was implemented by the state government. Rajasthan is the first state in the country to implement silicosis policy for the welfare of mining workers including BOCW.
  • In this policy, apart from the assistance amount of Rs 3 lakh, there is a provision of pension of Rs 1.5 thousand per month and other benefits to the patients suffering from silicosis.
  • For this, silicosis certification and payment is done by the special qualified person of the Directorate through Raj Silicosis Portal.
  • In this process, after the application by the beneficiary, the chest X-ray is analyzed and examined by a radiologist and certified as suffering from silicosis.

Union Agriculture Minister Laid the Foundation Stone of Morena Horticulture College

Why In News?

On October 6, 2023, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar laid the foundation stone of Horticulture College to be established in village Ratan Basai of Porsa tehsil of Morena district under Rani Lakshmibai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi.

Key Points:

• In this college, which will be built at a cost of Rs 160 crore, apart from providing graduate education, agricultural scientists will provide farming related training to the farmers and solve their problems.
• This college, to be built on 300 acres, will lead to the expansion and development of the area. Many districts of Madhya Pradesh including Chambal-Gwalior region as well as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will benefit from this college. Farmers and the region will also benefit through research work through the college.
• On this occasion, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that this college will bring change in the agricultural economy of the area and will also be beneficial for the farmers. This will provide new employment opportunities for the youth, while it will also be helpful in increasing the income of farmers.
• With the introduction of new crops and technology in farming, profits will increase, due to which the young generation will be more attracted towards farming.

Foundation Stone of New Building of CRC-Chhatarpur Laid in Madhya Pradesh

Why In News?

The foundation stone of the new building of the Comprehensive Regional Center (CRC)-Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh was laid on October 6, 2023, symbolizing a giant leap towards inclusivity and empowerment.

Key Points:

• The estimated construction cost for this visionary project is Rs. 25 crore and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed with NBCC to start the construction work soon.
• Apart from laying the foundation stone of the new building of CRC-Chhatarpur, Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar also laid the foundation stone of a sensory park at Chhatarpur costing Rs 9 crore. He also inaugurated the District Disabled Rehabilitation Center for the welfare and empowerment of disabled people in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh.
• At the inauguration ceremony of CRC-Chhatarpur, Cabinet Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar said that this is another pioneering initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. It is committed to empowering persons with disabilities through skill development, rehabilitation services and inclusive community programs.
• The construction work will be completed by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) in 18 months. This upcoming structure will be spread over a vast area of 41,275 sq. ft. and will be designed to provide an accessible environment that will cater to the needs of persons with disabilities.

Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute signs MoU with Mahindra

Why In News?

On October 6, 2023, Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (NRFMTTI), Hisar, Haryana, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, along with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Mumbai (one of India's leading manufacturers of tractors and farm machinery) Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Key Points:

• This strategic partnership aims to promote skill development among the youth, equipping them with the necessary expertise for careers in the field of agricultural mechanization.
• The MoU outlines a collaborative effort to offer comprehensive training programs that will prepare youth for the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural machinery industry.
• The primary objective of this partnership is to bridge the gap between the industry requirements and the skills possessed by the youth and ultimately strengthen the workforce in the agriculture mechanization sector.
• Key Features of the MoU:
• Skill Development Programme: NRFMTTI and leading agricultural machinery manufacturers will jointly design and implement skill development programs tailored to the specific needs of the agricultural machinery industry.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Mahindra will develop world-class training facilities, laboratories and experienced faculty to ensure high quality training for the enrolled students.
• Industry Linked Curriculum Training: The curriculum will be designed to closely align with industry demands, ensuring that graduates are ready for jobs upon completion of their training.
• Internship and Placement Assistance: The partnership will facilitate internship opportunities for students within a manufacturing company, giving them practical exposure to real-world industry operations. Additionally, the manufacturers will actively participate in the placement efforts of NRFMTTI, assisting in job placement for graduates.

Ranchi's Ankit Selected among Top 20 Participants of 'Yuva Pratibha'

Why in the News?

Ranchi artist Ankit has been selected among the top 20 participants of the National Art Competition ‘Youth Talent’ organized by the Government of India on October 9, 2023.

Key points

• This nationwide competition was conducted on www.mygov.in portal. In this, artists of the country were invited to present their lectures on a predetermined theme through painting.
• Out of thousands of submissions, only 20 artists made it to the final round. The next event will be organized in New Delhi this month.
• Ankit, who works as a management consultant in a multinational corporation, has continued his artistic journey while studying engineering from BIT, Mesra. He excels in both watercolor and oil painting.
• Ankit also specializes in charcoal portrait art. In 2016, he was honored with the ‘Jharkhand Foundation Citizen Award’.

Chhattisgarh Poultry Farming Promotion Scheme’ Started

Why In News?

According to the information given by Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on October 7, 2023, ‘Chhattisgarh Poultry Farming Promotion Scheme’ has been started to encourage poultry farming in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Key Points:

• Chhattisgarh State Livestock Development Department has given advance approval from the contingency fund of Rs 1 crore in compliance with the announcement made by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on August 15, 2023 to start this new scheme.
• Under the scheme, entrepreneurs starting poultry farming will be provided a permanent capital investment grant for 5 years, if they establish a business unit through self-financing or bank loan.
• In this scheme, which was started to provide new opportunities for employment and self-employment in the state, 25 to 40 percent capital investment grant will be given for the establishment of poultry farming units in developed and developing development blocks.
• For establishment of broiler, native poultry and colored poultry units, 25 percent grant will be given to general category beneficiaries in 'uncategorized' areas and 30 percent grant on permanent capital investment to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and EWS beneficiaries.
• Similarly, 35 percent subsidy will be given to the general beneficiaries of 'B' category area and 40 percent grant will be given to the beneficiaries of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and EWS on permanent capital investment.
• For poultry layer and parent poultry units, 25 percent subsidy will be given to general category beneficiaries in 'uncategorized' areas and 30 percent subsidy will be given on permanent capital investment to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and EWS beneficiaries.
• Similarly, 35 percent subsidy will be given to the general beneficiaries of 'B' category area and 40 percent grant will be given to the beneficiaries of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and EWS on permanent capital investment.

24th Meeting of Central Regional Council held in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

On October 7, 2023, the 24th meeting of the Central Regional Council was held in Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the meeting. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
• Chhattisgarh Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu and Union Home Secretary, Secretary of the Inter State Council Secretariat, Chief Secretaries of member states and senior officials of state governments and central ministries and departments were also present in the meeting.
• In his presidential address Amit Shah said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the role of regional councils has changed from advisory to action platforms. He said that the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh included in the Central Regional Council have a huge contribution in the GDP and development of the country.
• Amit Shah said that under cooperative federalism, regional councils have played the role of catalyst in solving problems, increasing financial inclusion and policy changes.
• It is noteworthy that from 2004 to 2014, 11 meetings of Regional Councils and 14 meetings of Standing Committees were held, whereas from 2014 to 2023, 25 meetings of Regional Councils and 29 meetings of Standing Committees were held.
• Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 570 issues were discussed, out of which 448 were resolved, while between 2014 to 2023, a total of 1315 issues were discussed, out of which 1157 issues were resolved.

Chief Minister launches Rozgar Prayag Portal and ‘Yuva Uttarakhand App’

Why in the News?

On October 10, 2023, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Rozgar Prayag Portal and ‘Yuva Uttarakhand App’ in the ‘Uttarakhand Youth Festival-2023’ program organized in Dehradun. He also launched self-employment centers in employment offices.

Key points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also gave appointment letters to 17 candidates selected through employment fairs. He also visited the exhibitions organized by various departments.
• While addressing the youth in the program, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the process of getting information and applying for the posts to be filled through outsourcing in various government departments through the Rozgar Prayag portal will be simple, while through this portal, youth will also be able to get information about outsourcing posts in various departments.
• State’s Skill Development and Employment Minister Saurabh Bahuguna said that skill development of youth is necessary for the development of Uttarakhand. With this thinking, Youth Mahotsav is being organized to connect the youth with skill development and employment.
• He said that the stalls of all the departments have been set up so that the youth can get all the information about the schemes of the state government.