• 11 Jan 2023

61 Blocks of Bihar Included in Country's 500 Aspirational Block Programme

Why In News?

• According to information received from media sources on January 10, 2023, the Central Government has started the Aspirational Block Programme on the lines of the Aspirational District Program. For this, 500 backward blocks of the country have been selected, including 61 blocks of Bihar.

Key Points

• Niti Aayog has set a standard for the selection of blocks under the Aspirational District Programme launched to bring backward blocks forward on many scales of development. To select blocks, Niti Aayog has based per capita income and population, in which per capita income has been given 75% and population has been given 25% weightage. On this basis, blocks have been selected from different states.
• Out of 27 backward districts of Bihar, 61 blocks have been selected. Similarly, 68 blocks have been selected from Uttar Pradesh, 34 from Jharkhand and 29 each from Odisha and West Bengal under the Aspirational Block Programme.
• Like the aspirational districts, special attention will be paid to indicators like health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development in these blocks, which are backward on many parameters of development.
• Additional funds will also be managed by the Centre for these districts. The ranking of blocks will be done so that the competition to move forward in them can increase.
• The Aspirational District Programme implemented in 2018 includes 12 districts of Bihar - Katihar, Begusarai, Sheikhpura, Araria, Khagaria, Purnea, Aurangabad, Banka, Gaya, Jamui, Muzaffarpur and Nawada.
• The focus is on developing key sectors like health, nutrition, education, financial condition and infrastructure in these districts. Education mainly includes school education and library facilities, infrastructure in schools.

18th National Jamboree Concludes

Why In News?

• The 18^th National Scouts and Guides Jamboree concluded at Nimbli (Rohat) in Pali district on January 10, 2023. Rajasthan won the best state title at the closing ceremony. Rajasthan stood first among the states participating in the event.

Key Points

• It may be mentioned here that the state-level development exhibition was organized by the state government on January 4 at 18^th National Scouts and Guides Jamburi at Rohat in Pali district which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
• Among the states participating in the National Jamboree, Rajasthan received the best state award for its best performance in all fields. Rajasthan also won awards in both the categories of National Commissioner Shield for Scouting and National Commissioner Shield for Guide for Best Guide.
• It is worth mentioning that during this entire event, Rajasthan has made many records, including the largest temporary stadium in the India Book of Records, the oath taken by the highest number of students in uniform on environmental pollution, etc.
• It is noteworthy that Niranjan Arya, chief commissioner of Jamburi of the state, gave the National Commissioner Shield for Scouting and National Commissioner Shield for Guide to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, keeping the tradition of Rajasthan's guest Devo Bhava meaningful.
• More than 37,000 scouts and guides from different parts of India participated in this national event along with more than 400 delegates from different countries.

State Land Acquisition Board Constituted

Why In News?

• On January 10, 2023, the State Government has constituted the 'State Land Acquisition Board' to complete and review the proceedings in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013 within the time limit.

Key Points

• It will be the responsibility of the Board to monitor land acquisition projects, review rehabilitation and rehabilitation work, simplify procedures, obtain services of subject experts and institutions and submit recommendations to the State Government.
• Under these obligations, the Madhya Pradesh State Land Reforms Commission has also been declared as the 'State Land Acquisition Board'.

Preparation for Imparting Education on the lines of CBSE is Complete in 80 Excellent Schools

Why In News?

• According to the information given by the Jharkhand Public Relations Department on January 10, 2023, on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, 80 excellent schools starting in the state will start teaching on the lines of CBSE from the academic session 2023-24. For this, the Jharkhand Education Project Council has completed preparations.

Key Points

• Out of 80 excellent schools, construction of 48 schools has been completed. The remaining 32 schools are in the final stages of construction, which will be completed by March 2023. From the academic session starting from April, all 80 schools of excellence will be run with CBSE affiliation.
• The process of application for affiliation of 24 excellent schools of the state has been completed and affiliation has been granted by CBSE for the academic session 2023-24. The remaining 56 schools of excellence will also get affiliation from the academic session 2023-24 after completing all the necessary procedures required for affiliation.
• In January 2023, CBSE will train headmasters of all 80 excellent schools to run schools in line with CBSE.
• Harsh Johar program for 80 excellent schools and 325 block level Adarsh schools of the state has been prepared to educate children on the basis of happiness curriculum. For this, teachers have been trained and Harsh Happiness Curriculum has been prepared. It will start in schools from January 27.

State level Chhattisgarhia Olympics Ends

Why In News?

• On January 10, 2023, the three-day state-level Chhattisgarhia Olympic Games in the capital Raipur concluded at the Balvir Singh Juneja Stadium.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the participants who came first, second and third in the state level events of Chhattisgarhia Olympics were encouraged by giving them certificates.
• It is worth mentioning that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the state-level Chhattisgarhia Olympics on January 8. On this occasion, he had said that Chhattisgarhia Olympics has been started to preserve and advance Chhattisgarhia sports. During this time, the Chief Minister had also announced to organize Chhattisgarhia Olympics in the month of September-October every year.
• There was unprecedented enthusiasm among the people all over the state regarding the Chhattisgarhia Olympics. From children to elderly, women and youth participated in these games with full enthusiasm. A positive atmosphere has been created towards sports in every village. Women also took part in it.
• Additional Chief Secretary of Sports and Youth Welfare Department Renu G Pillai said that 1711 participants from all districts participated in the state level Chhattisgarhia Olympic Games. More than 25 lakh people from rural areas and more than one lakh 30 thousand people from urban areas participated in Chhattisgarhia Olympics.
• He informed that Chhattisgarhia Olympics was started on October 6, 2022. In the Chhattisgarhia Olympics, the youngest 6-year-old girl participated in the state-level competition in Fugdi and 79-year-old elderly woman Sukaro Dai participated in the gendi race.
• Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Fugdi, Billas, Bhanwara, Bati and Kabaddi, Sankhali in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Outdoor Stadium, Tug of War, Langdi, Pitthul, Gendi Race, Kho-Kho and Gilli Danda in Madhav Rao Sapre Higher Secondary School and Long jump and 100 in Swami Vivekananda Stadium Kota Competitions of the meter race games were held.
• It is worth mentioning that Chhattisgarhia Olympics was organized with the aim of promoting traditional sports in Chhattisgarh. Domestic women, children and the elderly also participated enthusiastically in this Olympics. 14 sports were included in the Chhattisgarhia Olympics. Under this, the team sports included Gilli Danda, Pitthul, Sankhali, Langdi Race, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, tug of war, Bati (Kancha) and singles games like Billas, Fugdi, Gedi Race, Bhanwara, 100 m race and long jump.

Women got Legal Right to Horizontal Reservation in Uttarakhand, Governor Approved the Bill

Why In News?

• On January 10, 2023, The Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt. General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) approved the Uttarakhand Public Service (Horizontal Reservation for Women) Bill, 2022. The bill has been sent from Raj Bhavan to the legislative department, whose gazette notification will be issued soon.

Key Points

• Fourteen bills were sent to Raj Bhavan for approval. Of these, 12, including women's reservation, have been approved, while the Indian Stamp Uttarakhand Amendment Bill and The Haridwar University Bill are yet to get approval from the Raj Bhavan.
• With the approval of the Governor, women in Uttarakhand have got the legal right to provide 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs. The benefit of reservation will be available to all those women who have a domicile of Uttarakhand state. Of course they are residing in any place outside the state.
• On November 30, 2022, the state government had unanimously passed the bill in the Assembly and sent it to The Raj Bhavan. During the winter session of the Assembly, 14 bills were passed in the House. Most of them were amended bills, including the Women's Reservation Bill.
• In fact, most of the bills were approved by the Raj Bhavan, but the Women's Horizontal Reservation Bill remained under consideration. The Raj Bhavan examined the bill by justice and legal experts before approving it. This took a month for the bill to be approved.
• The High Court had stayed the state public service commission's orders granting 30 per cent horizontal reservation to women candidates of Uttarakhand origin in the examination conducted for the posts of Uttarakhand Combined Senior Service. Pavitra Chauhan from Haryana and other candidates had filed this petition.
• The state government challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court. On the government's special grace petition, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court's decision. In this way, the reservation remained intact. The supreme court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 7.
• What happened to women's horizontal reservation?
  • On July 18, 2001, the Interim Government issued a government order of 20 percent reservation.
  • On July 24, 2006, the then Tiwari government increased the reservation from 20 percent to 30 per cent.
  • On August 26, 2022, the Uttarakhand High Court stayed the government order of reservation during the hearing of a petition.
  • On November 04, 2022, in the hearing on the government's SLP, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order.
  • On November 29, 2022, the government introduced the bill in the House of the Assembly.
  • On November 30, 2022, the government unanimously passed the bill and sent it to The Raj Bhavan.
  • On January 10, 2022, the Governor gave assent to the Bill.