• 10 Dec 2022

'One District-One Wetland'

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Animal Husbandry Arun Kumar Saxena informed that the government has now launched 'One District-One Wetland' on the lines of 'One District-One Product' in the state. I have decided to work on it. In this regard, instructions have been given to provide proposals to all divisional forest officers of the state.

Key Points

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) Arun Kumar Saxena said that under this scheme, work will be done to decorate a wetland in every district, so that it can become a center of attraction in terms of tourism.
• It is the effort of the state government to develop a wetland in each district under eco-tourism, so that this wetland can get a special place in the tourism map. This will further expand the scope of eco-tourism of the state. This initiative of the government will rejuvenate the wetlands which are still in neglected condition or have not been noticed by anyone.
• Along with this, the work of shifting the Zoological Park and Night Safari in Kukrail in the capital Lucknow will start soon. The state government has set a target of setting up Kukrail Zoo and Night Safari by the end of the year 2023 and it has been decided to celebrate the next foundation day of Lucknow Zoo in Kukrail.
• The Forest Minister directed to set district-wise targets for setting up wood-based industries in the state to achieve the target of Ten thousand crores given to the Forest Department regarding the One Trillion Economy. Also, discussions were held regarding the establishment of wood art board.
• He enquired about the progress of zoo establishment in Bareilly. At the same time, he directed to provide a proposal for the formation of a society-trust for better management of Sandi Nawabganj Samaspur Bird Vihar, Sarnath Deer Park, Indira Gandhi Botanical Garden, Rae Bareli.

50-Bed Critical Care Unit to be Set Up at Gaya Magadh Medical Hospital

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, the Superintendent in-charge of Magadh Medical Hospital, Gaya, Dr. N K Paswan said that there is a proposal to set up a critical care unit in the hospital premises. In this, serious patients of heart disease, breathing, head injury, physical injury, surgery and other diseases will be treated.

Key Points

• The Superintendent in-charge said that 70 percent of the contribution in the construction of the unit will be given by the Central Government and the remaining 30 percent will be given by the State Government.
• This unit will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The unit will have portable X-ray machine, portable sonography, advanced equipment among other facilities.
• It is worth mentioning that till now the emphasis was on referring critical patients to Magadh Medical Hospital. These include most of the patients of accidental and burn. Due to the absence of a cardiology department in the hospital, patients related to it rarely reach here for treatment.

BPSC Releases Main Exam Question Format for the First Time

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has released the format for the first time of the 67^th Combined Main Competitive Examination. It will have the same format of all subjects except civil engineering and anthropology. There will be six questions based on different parts of the syllabus, in which the first and fourth questions will be short-answer.

Key Points

• All questions in the first question will be from section one, while all the short-answer questions of the fourth question will be from section two. Question numbers two and three will be descriptive, with one question as an alternative to each question. Both these questions will be from section one with options. Questions five and six will have two options each. Both these questions will be from section two with options and each of them has to be answered.
• There are three parts of the syllabus in anthropology. There will be section one to two questions. The first question will consist of short-answer questions and will be asked from the entire syllabus of section one. Question number two will be descriptive in nature and will also have an option each. This question will be from section 1 of the syllabus with options.
• Section Two will have two sub-sections A and B. There will be two descriptive questions in both of them and there will also be options for both. All these questions will be based on the syllabus of Section II and both the questions of one of the sub-sections will have to be answered.
• Section three will have two questions, the first of which will be short-answer and will have questions from the entire syllabus of Section 3. The second question will be descriptive and will also have an option. This question along with the option will be from the syllabus of section three. Candidates will have to answer both the questions.
• The first question of Civil Engineering will be short-answer, which will be asked from the entire syllabus of Section One. Part A, B and C of Section I will be asked three questions including options, of which candidates will have to answer any two. Question number five which will be the first question of Section II will be short-answer and will have four parts. Any two of these parts have to be answered.
• There will also be four descriptive questions including options based on Part A, B, C, D of the syllabus of Section II, of which candidates will have to answer two.

'56 Bhog Utsav- 2022'

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Rajasthan Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat inaugurated the four-day food festival '56 Bhog Utsav- 2022' at Rajasthan Haat (Jal Mahal).

Key Points

• The Industries Minister said that this event organized by the Industries Department and The Institute of Promotion of Enterprises will do an important job of improving the image of the products of the state.
• In the festival, delicious dishes of Rajasthan, famous spices, sweets, snacks, special foods and traditional, natural and modern appliances related to the kitchen will be available at one place.
• The Industries Minister said that this special event is being organized to introduce the local people and tourists to the cuisine, excellence of spices and regional diversity from all over the state. He said that the objective of the department is to provide a better platform to the cuisine running in the districts and to bring their fame to the national and international level.
• Rajasthan Industries Commissioner Mahendra Parakh said that the best dishes from almost all the districts of the state are being selected and displayed for the visitors. The department plans to organize such food festivals every year, so that the producers can get better customers with quality flavors to the people.
• He said that during the event, food competition, painting competition, talk show, quiz competition and various cultural programs will also be organized.
• It is noteworthy that in the year 2019, the 'Rasoi-2019' food festival was started by the Industries Department under the leadership of IAS K.K Pathak, which was also very successful and popular.

Separate Agriculture Budget will be Presented Every Year

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while addressing a pre-budget interaction with farmers, cattle rearers, office bearers of dairy associations and representatives of tribal sector at the Chief Minister's Office said that a separate budget will be presented for agriculture every year so that maximum benefits can be given to the farmers.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that agriculture, animal husbandry and allied sectors are the backbone of the state's GDP and economy. The state government is making all efforts to make necessary provisions for the prosperity and prosperity of the farmers and cattle rearers of the state through this year's budget.
• The state government has taken a historic decision to bring a separate agriculture budget for the first time. The state government will make every effort to include all the useful suggestions in the agriculture budget.
• He said that despite the adverse geographical conditions and lack of water, about two-thirds of the population of the state always makes meaningful efforts to keep the state at the forefront in the field of agriculture with their hard work. The state government is trying its best to make such provisions in the budget, so that the income of farmers and cattle rearers of the state increases and they become prosperous.
• The Chief Minister said that for the welfare of farmers, in the past years, the state government has taken many important decisions like Mukhyamantri Kisan Mitra Urja Yojana, formation of Farmers Welfare Fund, Mukhyamantri Milk Producer Sambal Yojana, Loan Waiver, Cooperative Crop Loan Online Registration and Distribution Scheme, Rajasthan Agricultural Processing, Agri-Business and Agricultural Export Promotion Policy. Which are bringing positive changes in the agriculture sector. Agriculture and dairy sectors can be developed rapidly through technology and innovations in Rajasthan.
• The Chief Minister said that today the farmers of the state are moving towards advanced agriculture by adopting new techniques and innovations. In view of the scarcity of water in the state and the falling ground water level, the drip and fountain irrigation system brought by the state government is getting a boost. The government has implemented a scheme to meet the energy needs of farmers by installing solar panels in the fields.

The Trio of Aishwary Pratap Tomar, Harshit Binjwa, and Goldi Gurjar won Gold Medal in the Team Event

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, the trio of shooters Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Harshit Binjwa and Goldie Gurjar of Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy won the gold medal in the 50 m Rifle Senior Men's Team Event in the 65th National Rifle Shooting Championship being held at Vattiyoorkavu Shooting Range in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Key Points

• Amit Kumar, Harshit Binjwa and Yakub Siddiqui of the academy also won gold medals in the 50m rifle three-position senior men's civilian team event.
• The third gold in the team event was won by academy shooters Avinash Yadav, Amit Singrole and Adarsh in the 50m three-position junior men's. Sameer Ullah Khan, Amit Singrole and Adarsh Tiwari of the academy won the gold medal in the 50m three-position junior men's civilian team event.
• In the championship, Harshit Binjwa of the Academy captured the gold medal with his outstanding performance in the men's singles civilian event. Aishwarya Pratap Singh of the academy won the bronze medal in the 50m senior men's singles event.
• In the skeet event at the 65th National Shooting Shotgun Championship in New Delhi, Arjit Singh Yadav of Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy won gold, Arjun Thakur won silver and Rituraj Bundela won bronze medal.
• In the senior team event, the academy's trio of Arjun Thakur, Arjit Singh and Rituraj Bundela won the silver medal.
• In the junior team event, Arjit Singh Yadav, Rituraj Bundela and Atul Singh Rajawat won silver medals. In the junior women's skeet event, Vanshika Tiwari, Kajal Singh and Shivani of the academy won bronze medals.
• Similarly, Anish Bhanwala of Haryana set a national record in the ongoing 65th National Shooting Pistol Championship at Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy at Barkheda, Bhopal. Anish broke his own old record of 588 points and scored 590 points to set a new national record.
• Anish Bhanwala was the youngest gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 at the age of 15. They have also been junior nationals champions for 5 years.

Indore Municipal Corporation Will Issue Green Bond for 60 MW Solar Power Project

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department of Madhya Pradesh Neeraj Mandloi informed that the Municipality will issue green bonds for setting up a 60 MW solar power plant at Indore Jalud Pumping Station.

Key Points

• Principal Secretary Neeraj Mandloi said that the municipal corporation will arrange Rs 250 crore from green bonds. Approval in this regard has been given by the Urban Development and Housing Department.
• Further action will be taken after the approval of the Municipal Council Indore on the proposal to issue green bonds. The bond amount will be refunded by the Municipal Corporation Indore from its own level. The government will not give any separate financial assistance for this.

State's First 'Chief Minister Sanjeevani Poly Clinic'

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Madhya Pradesh's Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Prabhuram Chaudhary and Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang inaugurated the state's first 'Chief Minister Sanjeevani Poly Clinic' at Govindpura, Bhopal.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Sanjeevani Poly Clinics are being started to provide treatment facilities from specialist doctors of gynecology, ophthalmology, dentistry, pediatrics and other diseases at one place.
• Health Minister Dr. Chaudhary has said that 32 Mukhyamantri Sanjeevani Poly Clinics will be started in Bhopal city. Specialists of various diseases will be available for treatment in poly clinics. Also, various tests and medicines will be available free of cost.
• Minister Dr. Chaudhary said that recently the Cabinet has approved the opening of 226 new health institutions. He said that Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country which has given medical education facility to the students in the mother tongue Hindi.
• Medical Education Minister Sarang said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, unprecedented work has been done in the field of health in the state. Pali clinics are being started in Govindpura area by innovating in the field of health. Poly clinics will also be linked to ESI, which will benefit the workers of the industrial sector.

World Famous Sanchi will become Solar City

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, according to the information given by the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department, Sanchi, a small town located in Raisen district, which is world-famous for stupas and Buddhist pilgrimage sites, will soon be known as the country's first solar city. Sanchi will generate 7.3 MW of electricity from solar energy.

Key Points

• With the construction of solar city, along with becoming self-reliant in power supply, the power needs of Sanchi for the next five years will be met by solar energy. Solar street lights, garden lights, stud lights, high-mast lights, solar drinking water kiosks, battery-operated e-rickshaws for public transport, charging stations, renewable energy-based plant wind turbines and piezo electric generators will be installed.
• In order to promote green energy in Sanchi and to motivate the common people to install solar rooftops, public awareness camps will be organized in Sanchi from December 12 to 18 through solar rooftop nodal agencies. In the camp, the benefits of installing solar and the process of installing solar rooftops will be explained.
• Solar Rooftop : Benefits at a Glance
  • Install solar panels on the roof or open space of your house/group housing society and save on electricity expenses.
  • The solar panel will provide electricity for 25 years and the cost of installation will be equal in 4-5 years. After this, the benefit of electricity from solar will continue for the next 20 years.
  • This will reduce the carbon footprint and benefit the environment.
  • A solar panel of one kilowatt capacity will require about 100 square feet of space.
  • 40 percent subsidy on solar plants up to 3 KW and 20 percent subsidy after 3 KW up to 10 KW will be given by the central government.
• Cost of setting up a solar plant: Group housing societies will get 20 percent subsidy on common facility connections up to 500 kW (10 kW per household).

Premchand Smriti Katha Samman

Why In News?

On December 8, 2022, according to information received from the media, Jharkhand's Storyteller and Novelist Ranendra has been announced to be given the 14^th Premchand Smriti Katha Samman. He will be given this honor for his glorious story journey.

Key Points

• Yogendra Ahuja, who was part of the jury of the 14th Premchand Smriti Katha Samman, said in his citation that the Storyteller and Novelist Ranendra is known for confronting the reality of tribal-indigenous life and bringing the crises and questions of that society into the realm of discussion.
• The narrator Ranendra has earned a unique identity with stories like ‘Chhappan Churi Bhattar Pench’, ‘Bhoot Bechwa’, ‘Baba, Kauve aur Kali Raat’ and Novels like ‘Global Gaon Ke Devta’, ‘Gayab Hota Desh’ and ‘Goongi Rolai’
• Over the past three decades, Ranendra has been wielding his pen on the neoliberal economy, free markets and uncontrolled capital proliferation, land mafia-corporate-bureaucratic and coalitions of governments in the frontier areas and the eviction of endangered communities and other tribes like asuras from their places. His works expose the complex, tragic reality of this life, as well as the elements of structural violence against him.
• It is to be noted that Indian farmers fertilizer cooperative limited (IFFCO), a leading cooperative in the fertilizer sector, will also give 'Shrilal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman' to Writer and Novelist Ranendra for the year 2020 and he is the first writer from Jharkhand to receive this honor.

G-20 Group Meeting will be held in Chhattisgarh Next Year

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel tweeted that the fourth finance working group meeting of G-20 will be held in Chhattisgarh in September 2023.

Key Points

• Significantly, after getting the responsibility of the G-20 group, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked about holding the grouping meeting in different states and states of the country, so that other countries of the grouping get acquainted with India's culture and folk art.
• The Prime Minister held a high-level meeting through video conferencing regarding preparations for India's chairmanship of the G-20, in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Governor of Chhattisgarh Anusuiya Uikey, including Governors, Deputy Governors and Chief Ministers of all states joined in.
• Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said That India has got an excellent opportunity to chair the G-20. In this, all the states will get an opportunity to show their art, culture and their uniqueness.
• He said that more than one lakh important persons from G-20 countries will attend meetings, conferences in different states of the country. For this, all the states should also add some new programs on their behalf. State universities, school students, voluntary organizations should also be associated with G-20 programs.
• He said that the states should specially showcase the development work done by the women of their area.
• The 18th G-20 Summit, chaired by India, will be held in New Delhi in 2023. The conference will be held on the ideal of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. The Summit will be held in New Delhi on 09 and 10 September 2023 and there will be 215 meetings at a total of 56 locations in all states of India, including the state of Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh will be honored on Universal Health Coverage Day

Why In News?

On December 9, 2022, according to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department, Chhattisgarh will be honored in a program organized by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on December 10-11 in Banaras on the occasion of Universal Health Coverage Day.

Key Points

• Significantly, the Government of India is honoring the states that have achieved 100 percent target in the operation of health and wellness centers. Chhattisgarh has made more centers functional than the target set for the operation of health and wellness centers by December 2022.
• Chhattisgarh had a target of upgrading a total of 4825 primary health centers, sub-health centers and urban health centers to operate as health and wellness centers. At present, 62 more i.e. 4887 centers are operating in the state than this target.
• Community Health Officers (CHO) have been appointed in sub-health centers health and wellness centers to provide universal primary health care and better health services to the people of the state.
• These centres include antenatal care and delivery, newborn health and immunization, family planning and reproductive health, National Health Programme and communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases screening and management, mental health screening and management, outpatient care and management for common diseases, eyes, nose and ears. Twelve types of health services such as general care of throat, oral health care, elderly health care and emergency care are being provided.
• Health and wellness centers also provide free check-ups for diseases like blood pressure, diabetes and cancer of people above 30 years of age. Their patients are also given free medicines and consultations as per the need.
• Along with treatment in health and wellness centers, people are encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle. Yoga and wellness activities are also being conducted through these centers to make people aware of health.
• Due to the treatment in these centers in the village itself, the crowd at the community health centers has reduced. Due to this, patients do not have to travel much distance for treatment. When a person shows symptoms of serious illness, he is informed in time so that he can get his treatment done on time.
• The Health Department is working towards making all the medicines needed available at the Health and Wellness Centers so that primary and regular treatment can be possible in the village itself.

Draft of Women's Policy in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

On December 8, 2022, Uttarakhand State Women Commission Chairperson Kusum Kandwal said after a meeting of officials held at the Secretariat on the draft women policy that for the first time in the state, a policy for women is going to be made. The draft women's policy has been prepared by the State Women's Commission, which will be released on International Women's Day on March 8 next year.

Key Points

• Kusum Kandwal said that the draft has been finalized with the cooperation of many departments and social organizations. The draft has been prepared keeping in mind the women of the mountain. In the women's policy, special arrangements have been emphasized for single women.
• Several schemes are proposed to strengthen single women's organizations at block and district level. Indira Awas Yojana and MGNREGA also propose a provision of some percent reservation for single women.
• It was told in the meeting that there is a need to change many government schemes for the promotion, development and empowerment of women. In particular, there should be a change in the marriage grant scheme of the Social Welfare Department. Under this scheme, a grant of Rs 50,000 is given for the marriage of the daughters of scheduled caste, scheduled tribe category and widowed woman in general category. Instead of granting for marriage, support should be given for the education of daughters and making them self-reliant.
• The chairperson of the State Women's Commission said that there should be a provision of 50 per cent reservation for women in forest panchayats.